This is an excellent example of a scarce variant of the “general service” Confederate belt plate from the collection of David Topper, co-author of several books on Civil War relics. If you are interested in what the “typical” Johnny Reb wore on his waistbelt, these fixed-tongue buckles might be foremost on the list. They are plain, simple, easy to cast, purely functional, and robust. This one has a nice, even brown/green patina, has no bends or breaks, and a good surface.

Lon Keim, author of Confederate General Service Accoutrement Plates, thought the beveled edge pattern, “stands out for its attractive construction,” in paying more attention to the finish of the reverse, rounding the frame corners, and in using beveled edges. This one is also the rarest variant of the type in terms of size, nicknamed the “baby frame” by collectors and sometimes associated with cavalry use. Often called Georgia frames from the production of marked examples of McElroy and Hunt of Macon, the general design saw wide use and they have been recovered from eastern and western theatres. The belts on which they were worn were as basic and functional as the plate, usually attaching to the middle bar by a single straight line of stitching.

This is an excellent example of an unpretentious belt plate designed for rapid wartime production with an eye toward pure function, but with some attention to detail as well. It displays great, and has good color, surface, and condition.  [sr] [ph:m]

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