A pair of Georgian paste shoe buckles, of oval slightly arched design, the shaped and split borders set with variously sized paste stones, steel fittings, 5cm wide, and a similar larger paste set buckle, 7.8cm wide. (3)

A private collection of Georgian shoe buckles from the collection of Lady Maufe (1883-1976)

Lady Gladys Evelyn Prudence Maufe (1883-1976) formed one of the world’s largest collections of historical shoe buckles during the 1960’s and early 70’s. She was wife to Sir Edward Maufe, architect of Guildford cathedral, and in 1939 became a Director of Heal & Son, the only non-family member of the board. She had a far-reaching influence in the field of interior design of the 20^th century, retiring from Heal’s as a Director at the age of 88.

Lady Maufe became interested in shoe buckles in the 1960’s, and built her collection by scouring the markets and small shops of Portobello and Bermondsey, often sending someone from Heal’s out to search on her behalf. As her interest and passion for shoe buckles grew she began to research them in earnest, and amassed an important and comprehensive collection in excess of 2000 buckles, mainly Georgian and Regency examples from the 1730’s-1820’s.

In 1972 Lady Maufe decided to give her collection of shoe buckles to the Nation, and offered it to Kenwood House, Hampstead, London. Kenwood House accepted two-thirds of the collection, where they remain on display to this day. The buckles offered here are some of the remaining one-third of the collection, inherited directly from Lady Maufe by the current vendor.