Little belt buckle (Art Deco?)

I found this little belt buckle (at least I think it's a belt buckle).
Looks kind of cool but can't find any info related to it.
Any idea who made it and when?

 

It's not old, just made to resemble an old one. There's no way to know who did it unless someone recognizes it.

 

I would say, Art Nouveau...not Deco

 

Check this:



http://www.leopardantiques.com/object/stock/detail/532

edit: I think, comparatively, the one you have looks like a lesser quality casting.

 

Never heard the term "nurses buckle" before. Apparently, used to describe the type of clasp that would be used as closure on a nurse's cape. As cape was part of a nurse's uniform, imagine often a fanciful description.

Debora

 

Nurse's buckles are very common here. It wasn't fanciful at all, they really were worn on their capes or on dress belts.

Have a look here: https://peopleshistorynhs.org/museumobjects/nursing-belt-buckle/

 

I agree, nurse's buckle refers to the functionality, nothing fancy. They are still worn in the UK:


But the ones I've seen were always two part clip buckles, like this Anglo-Indian one (from my collection):

 

With these particular Art Nouveau girls it is always difficult to see if they are of the period or 70s-80s revival. I am inclined to think Lennyt's is of the period. And as sabre pointed out, Art Nouveau, not Art Deco.

 

So - would the head be meant to suggest Florence Nightingale ?
It's not inappropriate that angels are shown in the image linked to by
ownedbybear, I think.

 

No, the girl's head is seen on a lot of Art Nouveau jewellery, not just buckles. She represents feminine beauty, and is connected to Flora, the flower Goddess. It is one of the most iconic Art Nouveau jewellery features.

 

Oh. Thanks ! There you go - my ignorance of an exceptionally iconic image is on display.

 

I meant that -- to my mind -- an art nouveau-design clasp would seem like a rather fanciful item on a period nurse's uniform cape. Does anyone have a vintage photograph that shows such usage? Willin' to believe.

Debora

 

Oh, they were very pretty and decorative. The one in that link, with the cherub heads is typical. The Nursing Museum at St Thomas's has some. Let me see if I can find an image or two.

 

Learn something every day. (And isn't that the whole point?)

Debora

 

Absolutely! It's half the fun.

 

Here's a site about nursing collectibles. There's a category for buckles.
http://www.petersnursingcollectables.com/home.php

 

Thank you for locating site for me. While I do see scroll patterns from the same period, I don't see anything figurative.

Debora

 

The nurses' capes I am finding button similarly to this one; nothing useful comes up searching for nurses cape clasp or fastener.



The buckles all seem to be large, for belts, & many of the belts seem specific to individual hospitals, although I see the one that looks more like a Valentine. Think posted (half) buckle or clasp can be ruled out as nurse's apparel on size alone.

They do say: The head is actually a separate piece of silver. The two really are the same. Maybe silver allows for a sharper impression than brass. Or the die that stamped the posted one is a copy (of a copy...) that has lost some definition.

 

Debora, second one down on Peter's Nursing Collectibles has a cherub on a dolphin. The NHS People's History link is putti as well. That's a pretty authoritative reference.

This one is 1980s: https://www.bagthejewels.co.uk/sterling-silver-nurses-buckle-on-original-stretch-belt-sold-296-p.asp

https://www.loveantiques.com/antiqu...ique-victorian-silver-nurses-buckle-1893-1459

Real life nurse: http://sarah-stewart.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-nurses-buckle.html

Have a look at the Queens Nurses on here: that's the style of cape. As is no 10. http://reneebenham.wixsite.com/beyondnightingale/browse

The ones with bands are much later.

 

I am a retired nurse who trained at Mile End Hospital in the East End of London, nurses belt buckles were only allowed once you became an SRN, (State registered nurse, ) when in training differed colours of belts were worn to show your year (level) of training ,Buckles were usually silver and decorated but not overly so, I never saw a cape decorated with a buckle. different hospitals had slightly different rules I think, ie at my hospital once you were an RN you got a different cap also and the belt color changed to red, ,When you became a Sister(Head nurse or supervisor) you had a whole different uniform and fancy sleeves or cuffs . still have my belt buckle and Sister,s cap, I was a night supervisor. then went on to a ward (floor sister at another hospital, then a live in nurse at a school for handicapped children before emigrating to US ,never worse white uniforms until I came here, . thanks for the memories .