GENERAL ARTEMAS WARD'S SHOE BUCKLES (PAIR)

A pair of pewter shoe buckles, circa 1760-1770s, faceted on their faces in imitation of cut stone, with inner tines and buckle arrangement of polished steel. These were originally owned by General Artemas Ward and later given to his son Nahum (1754-1778). They have period engraving on the verso of each, "N.W. to S. W.", probably from Nahum to his sister Sarah Ward (1756-1838), who later married Elijah Brigham in 1792. Heavily curved in profile, they are 2 inches wide x 2 5/8 inches long (view). CONDITION: very good, the pewter now a dull grey and the steel componets fairly bright. JLK Provenance: General Artemas Ward and by descent in the Ward-Brigham Family until 2012; private collection to present. Paperwork: Documentation/Photo