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.
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 |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| 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 created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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