The central circle is 1 3/4" while the belt straps are 1 1/2".
Here's the back.
And here it is disassembled.
I'm not a metallurgist but I presume it's brass. The gold look is gilt and the lion and crown is silver plate that has subsequently been painted silver. The brass beneath is showing through. If I'm wrong on any of this please tell me someone!
This is an ongoing project that will end up with a reproduction. I'll be doing leather work too. If anyone wants one of these please contact me. They will be for sale. The process of this reproduction will be updated.
It may be that I will have to cast the silver plated centre as part of the whole and silver it with silver leaf. That would be a pity as I'd like to make a solid casting of the lion and crown. I have a jeweller friend to help me but I can't see how we can un-pean the rivet stems that hold the centre to its backing. The process that will be followed, essentially, will be to make a silicon mould from which multiple wax forms can be made. These will then be placed in a mould material and removed, once the mould is set, by melting them out. It's called the "lost wax" process. Into the void the liquid brass will be poured and the cast reproduction created. The mould, finally, gets broken to get out the new buckle, but new wax forms can be made indefinitely. Line up folks! .....This will be the new fashion accessory, and just wait until you see the leather.
As I look at this I reflect that I'll be reproducing a worn buckle, not a new one. As such it would be equally appropriate if my silver leaf work only settles securely in the depressions. Used and worn belts were the norm. And as for the silver paint when was that done? Could it be 100 years old too?
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