Belt Buckle with Rock Crystal and Green Quartz

This 19th century Chinese belt buckle features an exceptional specimen of rock crystal flanked by two jade cabochons. The 19th century was an interesting period for fashion. Eastern and Western designers were influencing one another, and this buckle exemplifies this cross-cultural effect. It looks different than Chinese buckles from previous eras, but the crystal set into the hand-tooled brass has clear Eastern influences.