1740 Shoe buckles

1740 Shoe buckles Date 1740 Category Women and Men Item Buckles Fabric Silver, steel Decoration - Wearer - Maker Thomas Farren Acc. no. 1. HC.B-9.24-5 a,b 2. HC.B-9.24-24 a,b

Two pairs of silver shoe buckles 1738-1743

The style of either of these pairs might have been worn with the 1747 Shoes.

The frame has openwork along its centre, and the chape is steel. The buckles measure 2¼" by 1⅞" with a ¾" high curve, and they were made in London by Thomas Farren.

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  One of the buckles showing the size

They were made in London by Thomas Farren. The chape is steel, and the buckles measure 2⅛" by 2" with a ⅞" high curve. Examples similar to this design of oval buckle appear for much of the 18th century.

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  One of the buckles showing the size

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  Detail of one side of a buckle.

Contemporary illustrations

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  William Farrington by Arthur Devis, 1743. Yale Center for British Art

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  Detail of William Farrington by Arthu Devis, 1743. Yale Center for British Art

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  Portrait of a Woman by Thomas Gainsborough, 1750. Yale Collection of British Art.

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  Detail from Portrait of a Woman by Thomas Gainsborough, 1750. Yale Collection of British Art

History

The maker's mark of Thomas Farren on the oval buckles.

Thomas Farren worked as a goldsmith from 1707 until his death in 1743. He was subordinate goldsmith to the King from 1723 to 1742, one of the suppliers to the office of state, normally headed by a banker, which dealt with the gold, silver and jewellery requirements of the Monarch.

Thomas Farren used the form of his maker's mark shown on the right from 1739 until 1743, and after his death his wife, Ann Purkis, continued the business and registered her own mark.

Contemporary items

1730 Green damask waistcoat

1740 Silk apron

1747 Shoes

1750 Quilted petticoat