Object Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
San Mateo County Sheriff Belt Buckle, c. 1980-1991 |
Object Name |
Buckle, Belt |
Description |
San Mateo County Sheriff Belt Buckle, c. 1980-1991. Was part of Jimmy L. Dorris' uniform; he served with the Sheriff's department from approximately 1980-1991. Silver metal buckle is brass-colored on front and is rectangular in shape with a curved bulbous section in the center. Surface of front of buckle is etched with a scroll motif. In center is affixed a brass-colored metal "badge" in the shape of a six-pointed star with a ribbon on top. Center of star has a round raised embossed design with a redwood tree in the foreground and is inlaid with red, green and brown porcelain. Blue inlaid text reads, "* DEPUTY SHERIFF * / SAN MATEO CO." in smooth circle around image and "337" in bottom star point. Back has a raised rectangular metal flat arch on one side and a curved metal prong on the other. Back is stamped with makers information. |
Date |
c. 1980-1991 |
Creator |
Comstock Silversmiths, Reno, NV |
Role |
Manufacturer |
Catalog Number |
2021.096.007C |
Dimensions |
H-2.25 W-3.625 D-0.75 inches |
Dimension Details |
2.25 x 3.625 x .75 |
Collection |
3D - Clothing |
Inscription Text |
"* DEPUTY SHERIFF * / SAN MATEO CO. / 337" (blue text on front); "COMSTOCK / GERMAN SILVER / SILVERSMITHS" (stamped into back) |
Provenance |
Belonged to Jimmy L. Dorris who retired from the San Mateo County Sheriffs Department in 1989. He was also Chief of Police in Colma from 1974 to 1979. He was also a bailiff in North County court before its closing and served as a detective in several capacities during his time there. |
Notes |
"Belt buckles have been used since Ancient Rome. The first ones were simple wrought-iron utensils that worked to hold clothing together. "Their use spread throughout the world and their designs changed with new generations. During the Civil War, belt buckles were an important part of military fashion. Many times, they would connect to a soldier’s sword holder to keep it upright." [https://theoldtimey.com/belt-buckle-history-styles/ 11/30/2021] "Our family business began as a small shop on Market Street in San Francisco California in 1886, producing primary marshal and firemen’s badges and a few Sterling novelty items. The early 1900’s were tough, our building burned to the ground in the famous 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but we were able to rebuilt our business just blocks away, and all our famous steel dies surviving the fire. "As our business grew, so did our offerings. By the 1920’s we had stepped up our product line to include jewelry and Sterling home ware, such as punch bowls and ladies comb and hairbrush sets. But we really came into our own in the late 1930’s, as we rode the high of Americana and the great Western Movies of Hollywood. The era of The Cowboy became a large focus for us. We were busy producing belt buckles and Sterling adornments for parade saddles, that had become all the rage. We moved the buckle and jewelry portion of our company to Nevada in 1970, because in order to expand, we needed more affordable space. James Christian Stegman took over for his father, Howard Stegman, in the early 1990’s." [https://comstockheritage.com/pages/about-us 11/30/2021] |
Search Terms |
Costume Accessories Dorris, Jimmy L. San Mateo County San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Sheriff's Department Sheriffs |
Subjects |
Insignia Sheriffs Belts (Clothing) |
People |
Dorris, Jimmy L. |
Credit line |
Courtesy of Linda Kathleen Forlenza |