Button
ca. 1870 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Silver buttons were an important element of traditional dress in Spain. Unlike in most other European countries, women were just as likely to wear them as men. Both sexes wore them in extravagant quantities, along the seams of jackets and trousers and in bunches at the wrist, as well as to fasten clothes.
They were rarely sewn directly on to the clothing. In some places people fastened them to their costume with a strip of leather, which ran through the button loops inside the garment. More commonly they used T-shaped toggles permanently attached to the button.
Filigree buttons were used throughout Spain and Italy, and it is sometimes difficult to tell where they come from if they have no silver marks. The open pattern of these buttons is typical of Spanish work. The same pattern is often found on rosary beads and the tops of hairpins.
They were rarely sewn directly on to the clothing. In some places people fastened them to their costume with a strip of leather, which ran through the button loops inside the garment. More commonly they used T-shaped toggles permanently attached to the button.
Filigree buttons were used throughout Spain and Italy, and it is sometimes difficult to tell where they come from if they have no silver marks. The open pattern of these buttons is typical of Spanish work. The same pattern is often found on rosary beads and the tops of hairpins.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 23 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Silver filigree |
| Brief description | Set of 23 silver filigree toggle buttons, Spain, c.1870. |
| Physical description | Open silver filigree spherical buttons, decorated on the front with granules, and attached by an oval link to a T-shaped bar. Ring shank of circular section wire. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Given by Miss E. J. Hipkins |
| Summary | Silver buttons were an important element of traditional dress in Spain. Unlike in most other European countries, women were just as likely to wear them as men. Both sexes wore them in extravagant quantities, along the seams of jackets and trousers and in bunches at the wrist, as well as to fasten clothes. They were rarely sewn directly on to the clothing. In some places people fastened them to their costume with a strip of leather, which ran through the button loops inside the garment. More commonly they used T-shaped toggles permanently attached to the button. Filigree buttons were used throughout Spain and Italy, and it is sometimes difficult to tell where they come from if they have no silver marks. The open pattern of these buttons is typical of Spanish work. The same pattern is often found on rosary beads and the tops of hairpins. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.263&A to Q, S to W-1925 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | January 25, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
