Button thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Jewellery, Rooms 91 to 93 mezzanine, The William and Judith Bollinger Gallery

Button

1787 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

From the 17th century onwards, Dutch men wore dozens of silver buttons to demonstrate their wealth and status. The most popular kinds were round silver filigree buttons, and flat pictorial buttons. The designs on pictorial buttons were those of most interest to their owners: rural and seafaring scenes, bible stories, patriotic symbols, and horsemen. Many were based on the designs of 17th century coins, but the same patterns continued to be used well into the 20th century.

This button shows a VOC trading ship of the 17th century. It is marked on the back with the town arms of Schoonhoven, the date letter for 1787, and the silversmith’s initials ‘IV’. It may have been made by Jan van Vlierden, who worked in Schoonhoven from 1780-1790, but he is not recorded as a button maker.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Stamped silver
Brief description
Silver button stamped with a ship, Schoonhoven (Netherlands), 18th century.
Physical description
Flat circular button with the picture of a sailing ship of the 17th century stamped on the front.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 2.2cm
  • Depth: 0.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 4 lions in a square frame (On the back.)
    Translation
    Town mark of Schoonhoven
  • 'O' (On the back.)
    Translation
    Date letter for 1787
  • 'IV' (On the back. This silversmith is not recorded as a maker of buttons.)
    Translation
    Maker's mark. Possibly Jan van Vlierden, active in Schoonhoven 1780-1790.
  • flowered 'V' (On the back.)
    Translation
    Duty mark applied 1817-1842
Production
Worn by men
Subject depicted
Summary
From the 17th century onwards, Dutch men wore dozens of silver buttons to demonstrate their wealth and status. The most popular kinds were round silver filigree buttons, and flat pictorial buttons. The designs on pictorial buttons were those of most interest to their owners: rural and seafaring scenes, bible stories, patriotic symbols, and horsemen. Many were based on the designs of 17th century coins, but the same patterns continued to be used well into the 20th century.

This button shows a VOC trading ship of the 17th century. It is marked on the back with the town arms of Schoonhoven, the date letter for 1787, and the silversmith’s initials ‘IV’. It may have been made by Jan van Vlierden, who worked in Schoonhoven from 1780-1790, but he is not recorded as a button maker.
Collection
Accession number
7-1892

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Record createdAugust 10, 2007
Record URL
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