Button

Object Name:

Button

Object ID:

1955.224.01 - .18

Date:

1800-1900

Description:

Set of 18 buttons, pewter and brass.
.01 Cast pewter button, one of a pair. 0.8" diameter, 0.33" deep, 0.135 oz. Front convex. Eagle rampant on front with head facing right. Eagle clutching two semi-circular stems with two leaves on ends. Semi-circular stems face inward to enclose five-pointed star with very thin lobes. Pellet underneath star. Relief letters around perimeter from bottom going clockwise: "UNITED STATES / INFANTRY." Feathered details on body of eagle with eye, mouth, and hook on end of its bill. Edge of button slightly beveled. Back of button concave. Steel loop on back cast into button. Some flashing around steel loop where it meets button. Pattern on back of button on one side of loop, eagle rampant with shield body, facing left. Vertical bars at bottom and three horizontal bars at its top on shield on eagle; simple feather details on wings; eye, beak, and hook on bill visible. Semi-circular line above eagle, slightly off-center, extending to sides below button flashing. Line consists of series of small dots very close to each other, and line meets edge on left side almost at bottom edge. Circular script around cast loop, starts slightly off-center below loop, facing inward as it proceeds clockwise: "[five-pointed star] RICHARDS"; from star going outwards counterclockwise: "GILES".
.02 Cast pewter button, one of a pair. 0.8" diameter, 0.17" deep, 0.132 oz. Very worn version of .01. Also, slightly bent. Steel loop on back bent down. Very worn details on front. One can discern all design elements, but many details in eagle figure smooth and broad outlines of .01. Details slightly worn on back compared to .01. Off-center line on back almost entirely around perimeter, and is at very edge of bottom section.
.03 Cast pewter button. 1" diameter, 0.23" thick, 0.151 oz. Some delicate filagree on one edge in symmetrical pattern. Smooth bar near center that resembles a buckle section. Passing behind it, part of band of something going through buckle. Cast loop on back. Some small imperfections on back, but unable to connect for a meaning.
.04 Cast pewter button. 0.8" diameter, 0.35" thick, 0.165 oz. Central design of five multi-lobed leaves in circular five-leafed pattern. Background of pattern of small raised dots. Plain concentric border near edge. ~28 small blossoms with petals around outside edge of front. Edge of button almost flat. Some lettering on back. Brass loop cast in at center of back. Series of six-pointed stars around that. Twelve stars. Two concentric lines with text between them: "* JUDD & WOOSTER *". On bottom from left to right: "HARD WHITE*".
.05 Cast pewter button. 0.72" diameter, 0.24" high, 0.113 oz. Slightly fanciful geometric arrangement of floral decorations. Five lobes in center. Slightly concave area of eight lobes. Eight more lobes beyond that. Eight rounded lobes facing inward at edge, with some small lines in their center. Outside edge of button almost flat. Cast pewter loop and some flashing on either side of it on back of button. Slightly concave areas with "OL" in it around base of loop. Further out, another slightly concave groove with cast letters: "DEPOSE". Opposite it facing same direction: "PARIS".
.06 Cast pewter button. 0.75" diameter, 0.3" thick, 0.39 oz. Radiating sun symbol in center on front. 12 pointed lobes around edge of sun symbol. Woven cross-hatch pattern as background around sun. Four raised lines in each of the exposed weave areas. 16 small rectangles around edge with two small raised dots between plain rectangles. Edge of button slightly rounded. Brass loop cast into center of button on back. Raised characters on back with serif letters, facing inward between two concentric raised lines: "TERREL *" six-pointed star, then "* HOTCHKISS & TERREL".
.07 Cast pewter button. 0.75" diameter, 0.28" thick, 0.094 oz. Six-lobed star symbol in center. Six raised dots around a central dot in center. Background behind central area is concentric basket weave pattern. Smooth border around edge of button on top surface. Actual edge of button slightly rounded. Button relatively thin. On back of button, brass loop cast into it. Some cast-in writing on back, cast in characters. Band with two concentric lines as its border: Three six-pointed stars. Some sort of figure or symbol, then "MAT[T]", then obliterated space, then "E W", then obliterated character.
.08 Pewter button. 0.75" diameter, 0.33" thick. 0.134 oz. Radiating sun symbol with 12 pointed lobes around central design. Fine, cross-hatch pattern in background and smooth band around outer edge. Brass loop cast into back of button. Cast relief letters on back of button in circular pattern: "AMERICAN MANUFACTURE". Six-lobed stars between words, all facing in one direction.
.09 Pewter button. 0.78" diameter, 0.32" thick, 0.136 oz. Worn symbol of flower with stem and two leaves. Possibly two other leaves in central group of worn petals. Fine diagonal cross-hatch background. Smooth alternating diagonal bands angled toward center around edge. Three raised dots between bands. Small line as border between edge and cross-hatching. Edge of button slightly rounded. Brass loop cast into center of button on back. Some raised writing on back: six-pointed start on top, "HS ITH * * / [M]ANU FACTUR[E]".
.10 Cast pewter button. 0.73" diameter, 0.33" thick, 0.111 oz. Six-pointed star in center, with six fanciful floral leaf arrangements around it. Fine raised concentric lines behind leaves. Additionally, rows of small dots in a slightly diagonally radiating regular pattern. Edge of button slightly rounded. Brass cast-in loop on back of button. Some lettering on back, abraded in a number of areas. "APLATTS..F..."
.11 Cast pewter button. 0.62" diameter, 0.26" deep, 0.071 oz. Pentagonal star design in center with several symmetrical sub portions of design, including dots and triangles along with lobes that radiate from center. Series of dentals around outside edge that face inward. Edge of button slightly flat. Back of button concave. Cast loop in center. Flashing on back on either side of loop base, which does not go all the way to edge.
.12 Cast pewter button. 0.64" diameter, 0.43" deep, 0.146 oz. Slightly abstract floral design on front surface. Border of small raised lines around outside edge. Edges of button slightly beveled and some mold flashing, not trimmed. Cast loop on back and more mold flashing.
.13 Cast pewter button. 0.70" diameter, 0.26" thick, 0.114 oz. Front surface almost flat, smooth. Edge of button slightly rounded. Brass cast-in loop on back. Slightly raised line on back around central mound for loop. Inside line, alternating pattern of dots and crosses. Some of design obliterated.
.14 Cast pewter button. 0.54" diameter, 0.25" depth, 0.065 oz. Front surface smooth and almost flat. Outside edge slightly rounded. Cast-in steel loop on back of button. Slight line where mold pieces fit together on back.
.15 Pewter button. 0.54" up to 0.56" diameter, 0.26 depth, 0.054 oz. Front surface almost perfectly flat. Some scratches and imperfections on front surface. Imperfections almost appear to have a pattern, but probably coincidental. Imperfection may be from cooling of button after casting, creating slight concave area on front. Edge of button ever-so-slightly beveled. Cast loop on back at center and two flashing lines radiating from base of loop.
.16 Cast pewter button. 0.35" diameter, 0.19" depth, 0.021 oz. Front surface flat. Edge slightly rounded. Cast loop on back. Very slight flashing lines on either side of loop base. Loop slightly distorted.
.17 Brass button. 0.75" diameter, 0.45" depth, 0.076 oz. Convex with relief symbol of spread eagle. Eagle head facing left; in left talon is a stem with some leaves; in right talon, three arrows; shield on its chest with six rayed vertical bars. Edge of button rounded, turning under on bottom to capture edge of flat bottom piece with brass loop that appears to be soldered to bottom piece. Stamped letters facing inward on bottom piece: "* EXTRA*". On bottom, facing downward: "*QUALITY*"; pellets between words on left and right. Slight incised line around edge of bottom piece.
.18 Cast copper alloy button. 0.63" diameter, 0.34" thick, 0.111 oz. Cast relief scene in center of two figures in foreground, appearing to shake hands as they face each other. Below their out-stretched hands, figure kneeling, facing right, holding a standing child with up-lifted arms. Right-hand standing figure has left hand touching top of child's head. Draped figure with some type of hat or large hair arrangement behind them and facing forward. Figure appears to have sword hanging face down. Portion of resting American flag with stars at far left, with diagonal shaft; four or five stars visible. Eagle appears to be in front of flag with partially spread wings with head facing right. Another American flag on shaft, leaning diagonally on right side. About seven stars visible. Mace in front of it. Lettering around outside of button between two raised edges, all facing downward, lower left going clockwise: "* GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC *". Bottom left going counter clockwise: "1861-VETERAN - 1866". Edge of button flat. Short shaft on back of button that leads to slightly convex surface, 0.52" diameter. Back piece concave on inside.

Material:

Metal
Brass
Pewter
Copper

Credit Line:

Gift of Mrs. Edward S. Willis

Subjects:

Buttons