Antique Victorian Paste Stone Shoe Buckles

These buckles belonged to my great great grandmother, lovingly called Lady. Lady spent a great deal of time in a futile attempt to "civilize" her spirited granddaughter, Helen, my grandmother. When Lady forced Helen to become a debutant, she gave her the buckles. Lady probably regretted that gift when Helen scandalized the family by marching as a suffragette, marrying a postal worker & becoming a nurse at a time when that profession was still considered questionable for "ladies". Ironically, during the Great Depression, my grandparents were able to continue working & helped to feed their now unemployed family members & neighbors. During the Great Wars, Helen nursed burn victims.

In time, she gave the buckles to Mom, who married a dashing Navy pilot. 5 years later, Dad was killed, & Mom overcame dyslexia to become a teacher. The Salvation Army later honored her as a Woman of Dedication for her years of community service.

Good antique condition with some missing tiny stones (4, 11)