Sunday, August 30, 2009

Romeo and Juliet: Medieval Couple



Romeo and Juliet
Art Nouveau
Stamped and Pierced
White Metal
Couples Button
NBS Medium, 1 1/16"


Romeo and Juliet - Back


This button is known as "Romeo and Juliet." It is a wonderful depiction of romantic "courtly" life. A fancy dressed Romeo presents a parrot or a cockatoo to his love. The actual button is barely over 1" wide. It is a stamped and pierced white metal button, probably made in the Art Nouveau era. The gentleman wears tights, pointed shoes, puffed sleeves and a plumed hat. The lady wears a lovely gown with a long train, and a hennin with a flowing veil. Note the patterned floor, and the framed effect of the button's design, as if it were a woodcut or an illustration for a book. In natural light, the actual metal is a duller silver than a French white metal button, with just a hint of "orange" patina.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Trumpeter: French White Metal Button

Trumpeter
Stamped and Pierced
French White Metal
c1940s
NBS Large, 1 7/16"


Trumpeter - Back


The trumpeter wears a helmet, a cloak, decorated sleeves, and a sword strapped to his belt. He may be sounding a charge. I enjoy the button's attention to detail, including his face, the position of his body, and the folds in his clothing, but compared to the brass buttons of the late nineteenth century, French white metal buttons from the 1940s appear "cobbier," and the embellishments are more "busy" than accomplished. Still, it's a great button with a great design. (Also, I'm showing the buttons three to five times their actual size, exaggerating any flaws in design or workmanship.)

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Friday, August 28, 2009

Battle Knight on a Charging Horse: French White Metal Button

Knight on Horseback
Stamped and Pierced
French White Metal
c1940s
NBS Large, 1 1/2"
Knight on Horseback - Back


The charging knight wears full battle armor, right down to his spurs. The button is made of stamped and pierced French white metal. Note the surface detailing on the knight's armor and his shield, and on the horse's blanket. I enjoy the sense of motion in this button. As far as I know, it does not copy an earlier antique, and is a unique design, made in France in the 1940s. If anyone reading this post knows anything more about this button, or French white metal buttons in general, please add a comment. I know how to recognize one, and those I've purchased have been identified as French white metal, but I don't know much more about them.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Knight at the Door Bearing a Shield

Knight at the Door
c1880s
NBS Large, 1 3/8"
One Piece Stamped Brass
Riveted Cut Steels
Border with Screw Heads


Knight at the Door - Angled View


Knight at the Door - Back


Knight at the Door - Three Brothers


Knight at the Door - Three Brothers - Back



This button is often referred to as: Knight at the Door, even though he is actually a knight bearing a shield. I love this button. I first acquired the button without cut steels, and of the three, I enjoy the first button's "patina" the most. The button is slightly concave, and has a definite sense of three dimensionality, with the knight standing in relief from his textured background. He wears chain maille, gauntlets, a shoulder pauldron, a gorget, and a plumed helmet.

Five faceted and riveted cut steels decorate this one piece stamped brass button. The "brother" buttons, even the NBS small, exhibit the same quality of workmanship, and the same applied shank. Note the screw heads in the border and the rich detailing of the knight's mustached face and his armor.


Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Fierce Crusader Knight: King Richard the Lionheart

Fierce Crusader Knight
c1880s
One Piece Stamped Brass
Riveted and Faceted Cut Steels
NBS Large, 1 7/16"


Fierce Crusader Knight - Back


When I saw his face in a button listing, I knew I had to have him, damage and all. He is missing one cut steel. I think it adds to his character. Note the lion on his shield, and the Knight's chain he wears at his breast . He may be a depiction of King Richard the Lionheart. The button is made of one piece stamped brass, with 12 faceted and riveted cut steels embellishing a brick border.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Troubadour of Love: French White Metal

Troubadour
French White Metal
Inset Marcasite
Fancy Border
NBS Large, 1 7/16"
c1940s
Heart Shield


Troubadour - Back


The blunt faced minstrel is down on bended knee, perhaps to his love, playing a guitarra. The button is constructed of one piece stamped and pierced white metal, made in France in the 1940s.
This button is unusual; rather than cut steels, the fancy border is embellished with what I believe is marcasite. Sixteen marcasites alternate with hearts in the border, and four additional marcasites decorate the central image, including a marcasite set into a heart. The heart is emblazoned on a banner or a shield.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Jousting Knights: Shield Border

Jousting Knights
Shield Border
c1880s
One Piece
Stamped and Pierced Brass
NBS Large, 1 5/8"


Jousting Knights - Back



This button captures the moment of impact when two armored knights collide in the joust. A lance breaks as one rider attempts to unhorse the other, gaining the victory. The button is made of one piece stamped and pierced brass with an applied brass shank. The fancy border is comprised of twelve floral medallions alternated with twelve unique shields. Even the wild eyed horses wear armor.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Friday, August 21, 2009

Falcon Huntress

Falcon Huntress
c1880s
One Piece
Stamped and Pierced Brass
Riveted Cut Steels
Fancy Border
NBS Large, 1 5/8"



Falcon Huntress - Back


This glorious button is known as the Falcon Huntress. The Lady rides side saddle, and her horse gracefully leaps a fence as her loyal hound runs beneath it. The button is made of one piece stamped and pierced (openwork) brass, with 12 faceted cut steels riveted into the fancy border. She wears a high necked gown and a cone shaped hennin with a flowing veil.
Image and Text © 2009 Once Upon A Button

Thursday, August 20, 2009

King Arthur: Knight in Armor

King Arthur
Knight in Armor
One Piece
Stamped and Pierced Brass
NBS Large, 1 1/2"
Fancy Border



King Arthur - Back


A distinguished King Arthur, wearing a full suit of armor and a plumed helmet, holds his sword, Excalibur. His shield is emblazoned with a half moon and a six pointed star.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Monday, August 17, 2009

Medieval Woman Wearing a Hennin and a Fur Trimmed Gown

Medieval Woman
NBS Large, 1 7/16"
c1880s
One Piece
Stamped and Pierced Brass


Medieval Woman - Back


The Lady, perhaps a Queen, wears a hennin (conical hat with veil) and a fur trimmed gown. She touches his armor as if she were touching the shoulder of her King. This button is constructed in one piece stamped and pierced (openwork) brass, with exceptional detail, from the gathers in her skirt to the texture in her headdress and the fur that trims the bodice of her gown. A small bag dangles from her hip. She looks to me as though she waits for his return, or, she contemplates his leaving for a noble quest. If she could, she would go in his stead.


Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Medieval Collection I

Medieval Theme Picture Buttons


I'll be featuring these buttons in upcoming posts. The buttons in brass date from c1860s to c 1880s. The "white metal" buttons are French, circa 1940s, which were often reproductions of earlier buttons, or they are original designs. Themes range from knights to ladies to falconry to dragons, castles, musicians, and lovers. They are one, two, or three piece construction. Some of the buttons are embellished with riveted cut steels, and many are pierced (openwork). Every button was purchased individually. This is a working "card" of buttons (shanks punched through archival card stock), not a permanent display. I enjoy all of my buttons, but, if this group were the only buttons I could own, I would be a happy woman. Click on the image to see the buttons in greater detail.


Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Imp of Pain ~ Chiseling the Face of the Moon

Imp of Pain
(AKA) Chiseling the Face of the Moon
c1880s or earlier

NBS Large, 1 7/16"
Three Piece Brass
Leaf Border, Steel Liner,
Brass Escutcheon, Brown Background,
Reddish Tint, Japanned Back


I've seen this button referred to as The Imp of Pain; also as Chiseling the Face of the Moon. It's an NBS Large, exhibiting a great amount of detail and multi-step construction, including the brown painted background, a steel liner (discolored from its original bright silver), a brass leaf border, and the imp and the moon molded in a one piece brass, raised and 3-D escutcheon. In addition, the brass border and escutcheon are tinted in red. The back of the button is Japanned black, with an inserted brass shank.

In the photograph, I "touched up" minor scratches in the brown background, which are barely noticeable when the button is viewed at its original size of almost 1 1/2". (Please note: Buttons for sale should always be photographed exactly as is, imperfections in particular, so the buyer knows exactly what to expect. Minor flaws in an exceptional button are acceptable to many buyers, due to the age of the buttons, but a buyer should always be fully informed of condition, and the pictures are more telling than any verbal description.)

The moon looks reasonably comfortable, despite the title of the button; but the imp, with his deep frown, appears particularly unhappy with his work. Perhaps he's just concentrating.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Friday, August 14, 2009

Art Nouveau Woman: Flower Petal Hat


Art Nouveau Woman
Flower Petal Hat
Molded Brass with Gilt
Overexposed to Show Detail
NBS Small, 1/2"


This lovely young woman, art nouveau, wears a flower petal cap. She is only 1/2" wide, with a thoughtful, somewhat pensive expression. I wonder what she is thinking.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button