Revolutionary War high-quality Shoe Buckle, as in books and museums

Being offered is a beautiful Revolutionary War shoe buckle measuring 2” x 3 1/4”.  The main decorative and structural outer rim is arched to fit the curve of the foot's instep metal crossbar which is made of iron. It runs through the center of the frame and acts as the hinge and anchor point for the moving internal components.

The frame is an early type of silver-plated copper-zinc alloy (introduced around 1742) that gave the  look of silver over a base metal core. It took an experienced craftsman to produce a buckle like this. This wouldn’t be worn by the average citizen or soldier, but someone well-to-do or an officer. The look and design suggest it may have been worn by a French officer.

This buckle is in very nice condition, and the components still work fine. There are examples of this buckle in books and museums. It comes in the glass top display case pictured. This is a rare buckle and the only one I have seen in this very attractive design.