| "Most buckles are slightly curved to fit the curve of the stomach over which they were worn. Now and then I have found a buckle that curves the wrong way to fit over a stomach. For a long time I didn't know what this type of piece was for, but the 1905 Unger catalog, reprinted by Eden Sterling and invaluable in its completeness, illustrates these pieces. These buckle sets consisted of three pieces, the largest a inwardly curved piece with no clasp, and vertical struts through which the belt fabric was threaded. This piece was meant to be worn in the back, and is curved to fit into the small of the back. The smaller two pieces clasped the belt in front. Although the Unger catalog illustrates the set, the photo is of a Kerr piece. This is a rather plain buckle made out of heavy silver sheet." |
