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Stud

1801-1841 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Silver buttons were an important element of traditional dress throughout Europe in the 19th century. Most had a loop on the back for attachment, but in Norway and Sweden stud buttons were also used. These were mainly worn by men, at the throat, to keep their shirts closed. They were often decorated with filigree.

The pattern on this stud button, of a ring of coil rings and bands of wrapped wire surrounding a central knop, is very common on buttons of the late 18th and early 19th century. It was used in Norway and northern Germany as well as Sweden. Swedish silversmiths often replaced the central piece of silver with a coloured glass paste during the 19th century. This button was made by Andreas Silfverberg, who worked in Ystad, in Skåne, in the first half of the 19th century. Skåne province has the richest tradition of jewellery, and more was worn there than in any other district. Almost all the Swedish traditional jewellery at the V&A comes from Skåne.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver covered with applied filigree surrounding a facetted red paste
Brief description
Silver stud button decorated on its front with applied filigree and a red facetted paste, Skåne (Sweden), 1801-1841.
Physical description
Silver stud button, with a domed face on which is a ring of coil rings surrounding a central facetted red paste with two rings of wire wrapped in spiral wire round its base.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 2.3cm
  • Depth: 2.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'A S B' in rectangular frame. (On back, twice.)
    Translation
    Mark of Andreas Silfverberg, of Ystad.
  • Winged animal facing right. (On back.)
    Translation
    Town mark of Ystad.
Summary
Silver buttons were an important element of traditional dress throughout Europe in the 19th century. Most had a loop on the back for attachment, but in Norway and Sweden stud buttons were also used. These were mainly worn by men, at the throat, to keep their shirts closed. They were often decorated with filigree.

The pattern on this stud button, of a ring of coil rings and bands of wrapped wire surrounding a central knop, is very common on buttons of the late 18th and early 19th century. It was used in Norway and northern Germany as well as Sweden. Swedish silversmiths often replaced the central piece of silver with a coloured glass paste during the 19th century. This button was made by Andreas Silfverberg, who worked in Ystad, in Skåne, in the first half of the 19th century. Skåne province has the richest tradition of jewellery, and more was worn there than in any other district. Almost all the Swedish traditional jewellery at the V&A comes from Skåne.
Collection
Accession number
503-1886

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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