Button thumbnail 1
Button thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Button

1860-1870 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Most European cultures disapproved of male jewellery in the 19th century, but allowed the use of functional items such as buttons and watch chains. Men often wore these in extravagant quantities with traditional costume.

This hollow, silver-gilt button comes from Salamanca, in Spain. Men in that region wore a large variety of buttons, both flat and hollow, as was common throughout Spain, but the pattern on this one, of a star made from a mass of tiny applied granules and rings of twisted wire, is unique to Salamanca, and to the village of La Alberca in particular. Originally, it would probably have been worn to fasten the collar of a man's shirt, linked to a matching pair by an oval loop. It was bought, with two others, for eight shillings at the International Exhibition, London, 1872.

Similar buttons were worn by men in the Zeeland region of the Netherlands, but there the stars always have six points, and the links between the buttons are usually round.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Gilded silver sheet with applied twisted wire and granules
Brief description
Hollow silver-gilt button with applied filigree star, Salamanca (Spain), 1860-1870.
Physical description
Hollow silver-gilt button with rounded face decorated with a star made from applied rings of twisted wire, and granules. There is a larger granule in the centre.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 25mm
  • Depth: 24mm
Summary
Most European cultures disapproved of male jewellery in the 19th century, but allowed the use of functional items such as buttons and watch chains. Men often wore these in extravagant quantities with traditional costume.

This hollow, silver-gilt button comes from Salamanca, in Spain. Men in that region wore a large variety of buttons, both flat and hollow, as was common throughout Spain, but the pattern on this one, of a star made from a mass of tiny applied granules and rings of twisted wire, is unique to Salamanca, and to the village of La Alberca in particular. Originally, it would probably have been worn to fasten the collar of a man's shirt, linked to a matching pair by an oval loop. It was bought, with two others, for eight shillings at the International Exhibition, London, 1872.

Similar buttons were worn by men in the Zeeland region of the Netherlands, but there the stars always have six points, and the links between the buttons are usually round.
Collection
Accession number
1137B-1873

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

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest