Gorgeous Antique Victorian Silver Nurses Buckle, Charles Boyton II, London 1896

  
Gorgeous Antique Victorian Silver Nurses Buckle by Charles Boyton II, London 1896. Here on offer is a silver nurses buckle made by Charles Boyton II, a member of the renowned family of silversmiths in London in 1896. Charles Boyton and Charles Boyton & Sons Ltd. Are part of the history of the silversmithing Boyton family. The first hallmark was registered in London in 1825, Charles Boyton II's hallmark was registered in 1855. In 1894 the name of the business changed to Charles Boyton & Son, and then changed again, it becoming a limited company in 1919.

Charles Boyton III began a new business in 1934 after Charles Boyton & Sons Ltd. Charles Boyton III became renowned for creating art deco inspired designs. Profitable era of the company. This buckle is typical of those that are called nurses buckles, they were traditionally gifted to young women when they passed their nursing exams displaying pride in a rite of passage. Families would take time and trouble to select something beautiful and preferably an antique example, some passed from one generation to the next, such as my mother passing her treasured to buckle to my sister on graduation.

It is likely that this belt has had many owners. This example has been made in a heavy gauge of silver, featuring cherubs, fruiting vines, stylised foliate scrolls and the sun.

It is fully hallmarked for Charles Boyton II, assayed in London in 1896 on both pieces. The buckle fastens with a simple hook mechanism. The buckle is in good order without repair. It retains the dark navy gross grain ribbon of the nurses uniform, so I have not attempted to clean the silver. 6.4cm by 10.2cm.

I tried to weigh the silver keeping as much of the fabric off the scales, it weighed 57.8g, but taking the fabric completely off would be a few grams lighter. A gorgeous and usable collectable. Please see pictures for more details. I will pack and weigh the items together and get the best possible price that I can, sometimes weight or value might dictate that I send multiple parcels to get a better value for you.