Antique Victorian Clamp-On Ice Skates c.1885–1900 Primitive Pond Skates

This pair of late-19th-century clamp-on ice skates represents an important transitional period in the history of recreational winter sports. Designed to attach directly to ordinary leather boots, these skates predate the widespread adoption of dedicated skating boots and reflect the ingenuity of Victorian sporting equipment.
The skates feature hand-forged steel blades with gently upturned toes, adjustable threaded mid-foot hardware, and spring-tension heel clamps with riveted pads. The use of leaf-spring pressure arms, peened rivets, and fully metal construction are characteristic of American skates produced in the final decades of the 19th century. All components appear original, with no evidence of modern repairs or replacement hardware. Barney and Berry style.
Surface oxidation and wear are consistent with age and use, resulting in an untouched, authentic patina highly valued by collectors. These skates were intended for use on frozen ponds and rivers and would have been sold throug