Featured in the April 23 Homes & Interior sale is a wonderful private collection of Georgian shoe buckles. Inherited from the vendor’s parents, and even from their grandparents, they were acquired over a prolonged period with antique shops and Portobello market being popular hunting grounds.
19 April 2024
VIEW COLLECTION REQUEST A VALUATION CONTACT A SPECIALIST
This collection dates predominantly to the 18th century, but their use started around the middle of the 17th century. As with most collecting areas, small and nuanced changes in shape, style and size help date buckles to a specific period.
They became highly fashionable and enjoyed jewellery-like status, as some of the fitted cases can attest. Silver was a prized material for buckles, with less desirable buckles produced in base metals.
A pair of bright-cut pewter shoe buckles (£400-600)
Brilliance and pomp were a big part of the buckle, and the paste settings supported this fashion. Foil back cut glass was set into the buckles to achieve a similar effect to diamonds. While we view paste as a lesser material by modern standards, this was not the case in the Georgian period.
The fashion for shoe buckles outside ceremonial or military dress started to wane in the 18th century. Nevertheless, their status as a high fashion accessory has lived long in memory, becoming an attractive area of antique collecting today.
A pair of silver shoe buckles (£70-90)
homesandinteriors@sworder.co.uk | 01279 817778
In anticipation of our upcoming auction 'The Glass Sale', we shine a spotlight on René Lalique and his mastery of moulded glass.
13 February 2026
Sworders are delighted to present ‘Painting with Wool: The Tapestries of Miriam Sacks’, a one-woman retrospective exhibition in our London gallery. Staged in partnership with the estate of Miriam Sacks, the exhibition showcases the finely honed skill and aesthetic diversity throughout the maker’s long career.
11 February 2026
We’re delighted to welcome Bryn Sayles to Sworders as Senior Valuer and Business Development lead for Modern & Contemporary Art. With a focus on building on the department’s success and expanding the reach of its sales, Bryn shares insight into her background and expertise.
4 February 2026