Antique Georgian sterling silver, black dot clear paste rhinestone square buckle brooch pin, early 1800s

Large antique Georgian (early 1800s) sterling silver buckle brooch with beautifully shaped paste stones. The back tests as silver though it is not stamped or hallmarked. The paste stones have been beautifully set with closed backs. It measures just over 1.5 inches by 1 3/4 inches.

Stones set like this are called 'black dot' paste as they have a tiny black dot "painted" on the very bottom underside of each stone. In setting the paste, often pitch or a similar sticky material was utilised to anchor the stone during setting.

Many listings of brooches like these say that these pieces were originally Georgian shoe buckles, originally kept in pairs. This piece fastens with a simple C hook clasp and pin which must have been added a little later when buckles went out of fashion. I would wear this on the knot of a tie or scarf, or as a cloak pin to the side or even on the shoulder.

The brooch is in good vintage condition for its great age, please examine all photographs carefully. When you look at the picture of the back of the brooch, interestingly you can see where the right-hand side has been re-welded to the body - weld lines at the top and at the bottom. I wonder if this was more rectangular as a buckle, but that the owner who wanted it converted to a brooch all those decades ago asked for it to be made more square.