Button thumbnail 1
Button thumbnail 2
+1
images
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

1800-1900 (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. Few women wore decorative silver buttons, but theirs are often the most spectacular.

In the Balkans, silver buttons were worn only by men, with very few exceptions. They were usually fastened with a toggle bar, rather than sewn directly to the garment, and were used to fasten the waistcoat or jacket, for both men and women. These buttons probably come from the Konavli district of Croatia, where they formed part of the bride’s dowry. They were worn in sets of around ten buttons.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Button
  • Button
Materials and techniques
Silver, filigree
Brief description
Pair of silver filigree toggle buttons, Dalmatia (Croatia), 1800-1900.
Physical description
Pair of hollow filigree toggle buttons, with waisted oval link and crossover bar. There is a rope of braided wire round the girdle. Decorated back and front with applied granules, with a pyramidal knop on the top.
Dimensions
  • Length: 5.0cm
  • Diameter: 2.1cm
Credit line
Given by B. H. Jackson
Production
Worn by women
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. Few women wore decorative silver buttons, but theirs are often the most spectacular.

In the Balkans, silver buttons were worn only by men, with very few exceptions. They were usually fastened with a toggle bar, rather than sewn directly to the garment, and were used to fasten the waistcoat or jacket, for both men and women. These buttons probably come from the Konavli district of Croatia, where they formed part of the bride’s dowry. They were worn in sets of around ten buttons.
Collection
Accession number
CIRC.20&A-1951

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 createdApril 15, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest