buckles

[claireshaeffer]

I have a collection of buckles--nothing valuable, just buckles I bought because they were different.

Today I photographed 4 of them to try the camera on the cell phone--that wasn't very satisfactory, but my photos are good enough to and ask you some questions about them.

Here are my questions:
1. dates?
2. descriptions?
3. should I clean them?

1. This is cut steel; the shoe buckles haven't tarnished like the buckle.
2. I think this is simply plastic
3. Sadly, this one is welded together with a pin added.
4. I think the stones on the large flowers are glass, but could be jadeite.

Many thanks for your thoughts and comments.
Claire

 

[Metro Retro Vintage]

What a lovely collection, Claire -- I especially like the last floral Nouveau one. Does the Victorian steel cut buckle have a stamp? These are often French in origin.

The third converted buckle-brooch appears to say "China" in the paper tag -- is it stamped with the same? If so, it's likely to be 40s Chinese Export, with gemstones set in silver (often unmarked). This is the only one I would clean, if at all, with a soft silver polishing cloth on the high points only -- but I wouldn't clean any of the others, and would be inclined to leave all of them "as is".

 

[anothertimevintageapparel]

The last one is lovely. I like them all and they all would be very sellable.
The plastic ones are sought after by buyers that make 1930s dresses.

I have similar pins ,sash style,that resemble the last Nouveau one and I get many compliments when i were them.
You photos are very good, they just need cropped

 

[claireshaeffer]

Thank you for the info. I'll work on more photos.
Laura, I appreciate the advice not to clean. I have a case with a glass top for them and others; I was surprised how dirty they were.
The cut steel doesn't have a stamp. I have some cut steel buttons and a form to make them. Naturally the form doesn't go with any of my pieces.
The China piece is marked China on the back.

When I loaned a Chanel to Winterthur last year, they cleaned the buttons. I had taken photos before it left and you could see the green tarnish on them.

I'll work on my photos and try a diff. camera as well. I frequently crop but am simply trying to march through as much stuff as possible.

 

[Midge]

I bought a lot of those 30s plastic buckles (all deadstock) some years ago, they sold pretty well in my Etsy shop.