Stock Buckle
1765–85
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
2 x 1 7/16 in. (5.1 x 3.7 cm)
Classification
Buckle
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1940
Accession Number
40.125
Art Historical Context
This elegant silver stock buckle, crafted by American artisan Otto Parisien between 1765 and 1785, represents a refined accessory from the colonial and early Federal periods. Stock buckles fastened the starched neckbands worn by men of means, transforming a functional garment into a statement of personal style. Measuring just over two inches, the piece highlights the meticulous scale at which silversmiths worked, turning precious metal into wearable art. Silver held particular significance in eighteenth-century America, symbolizing both wealth and technical mastery. As a durable yet lustrous ...