Button thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Europe 1600-1815, Room 1

Button

1775-1798 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Men throughout Europe wore silver buttons with their traditional costume in the 19th century. Silver filigree buttons had been synonymous with rural dress since at least the 16th century. Most European cultures disapproved of male jewellery, but buttons allowed men to show off their wealth and status. They wore them in extravagant numbers, on sleeves and trousers as well as jackets and waistcoats.

Buttons were rarely sewn directly on to the clothing. In the north of Europe people fastened them to their costume with a strip of leather, which ran through the button loops inside the garment. In the south, they used T-shaped toggles permanently attached to the button.

Conical toggle buttons like these were worn by men, on jackets and waistcoats. They are now considered typical of Malta, but in the late 18th and early 19th century may have been worn in southern Italy as well. This button has Maltese marks from the end of the 18th century. It was bought for four shillings (for seven) at the International Exhibition, London, 1872.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver sheet with applied and open filigree
Brief description
Man's conical silver toggle button, Malta, 1775-1798.
Physical description
Conical silver toggle button, with oval link, and wire bar crossed over in the centre to form the loop. The button is made of sheet silver, decorated on the front with a rosette of applied wire, with a small filigree rosette at the top. There is a band of open twisted wire between the body of the button and its front.
Dimensions
  • Whole length: 60mm
  • Bar width: 44mm
  • Button diameter: 20mm
  • Button length: 37mm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'R' with crown above in shaped frame. (On crossover of bar.)
    Translation
    Mark for 917 standard silver, Malta, 1775-1798.
  • Partial mark of 'GO'. (On joint of link.)
    Translation
    Mark of unidentified maker.
Production
Worn by men on their jackets
Summary
Men throughout Europe wore silver buttons with their traditional costume in the 19th century. Silver filigree buttons had been synonymous with rural dress since at least the 16th century. Most European cultures disapproved of male jewellery, but buttons allowed men to show off their wealth and status. They wore them in extravagant numbers, on sleeves and trousers as well as jackets and waistcoats.

Buttons were rarely sewn directly on to the clothing. In the north of Europe people fastened them to their costume with a strip of leather, which ran through the button loops inside the garment. In the south, they used T-shaped toggles permanently attached to the button.

Conical toggle buttons like these were worn by men, on jackets and waistcoats. They are now considered typical of Malta, but in the late 18th and early 19th century may have been worn in southern Italy as well. This button has Maltese marks from the end of the 18th century. It was bought for four shillings (for seven) at the International Exhibition, London, 1872.
Collection
Accession number
1467A-1873

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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