These buckles with brass heavy-wire keepers and S-shaped link were long and widely used by British, British-colonial, and British-commonwealth troops. During the Civil War they saw use by both sides, those in US hands often coming from blockade runner captures. See Dave Hubbard’s survey of the pattern in North-South Trader 35.2 (2010) and they are illustrated in Mullinax and other buckle and accoutrement books. The S-hook naturally lent itself to decoration and casting as a snake or other animal-like form, some complete with head and tail or, as in this case, with two identical heads curving in opposite directions from a central point often marked by a rosette or band. The form of head varied considerably by maker, with some clearly snakes, some akin to sea-serpents, others looking more duck or gooselike, with these almost eagle-like in some respects. Unfortunately, without provenance, they are tough to date or identify as American-used or Civil War, though this one, non-excavated, is a good example of the general type.  [sr][ph:L]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS.

THANK YOU!