Thursday, October 22, 2009

Love's Messenger

Love's Messenger
Bird Delivering a Letter
to a Woman at a Window
Textured Background
NBS Large
Stamped and Pierced Brass
c1880s


Love's Messenger
Button Back


This wonderful button depicts a woman at a window receiving a letter from a swallow. The button is made of stamped and pierced brass with a textured background. The brass is tinted black to create a nighttime scene. Notice the ornate window frame, the city rooftops and the clouds. I owe the title of this button and additional information to a member of the National Button Society, who looked the button up for me in the Big Book of Buttons. Thank you, Janelle!

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Two King Arthur Buttons with Cut Steels

King Arthur
Knight with Shield and Sword
Stamped and Pierced Brass
Cut Steels in 4 Sizes
NBS Large
c1880s


King Arthur - Button Back



King Arthur
Knight with Shield and Sword
Stamped and Pierced Brass
Cut Steel Border
NBS Large
C1880s


King Arthur - Button Back


Two King Arthurs
Stamped and Pierced Brass
Fancy Borders
One with 4 Sizes of Cut Steels
One with Same Size Cut Steels



Two King Arthurs - Button Backs


These two buttons demonstrate how the same button die can result in buttons with similar but varied finishes and embellishment. The design is identical to a button also known as King Arthur featured in an earlier post, that is equally impressive, but without the cut steel border.

One of the things I enjoy about button collecting, is the way each button-- based on the original finish, the actions of aging, and whether someone has polished the button through the years-- develops its own character.

The buttons are made of one piece stamped and pierced brass, with a faceted and riveted cut steel border. The first King Arthur has cut steels in four graduated sizes, and the brass is muted and warm. The second button has a cut steel border with steels all of the same size, with the bright effect of polished brass. Of the two, I enjoy the first button the most, but my favorite of the three, in terms of patina, is the one without cut steels.

King Arthur wears a full suit of armor and a plumed helmet. He grips his sword, Excalibur, and a shield decorated with a six pointed star and a half moon.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Falcon Hunter: French White Metal

Falcon Hunter
Stamped and Pierced
French White Metal
NBS Large
c1940s



Falcon Hunter - Button Back



This "falcon hunter" is a poor imitation of the original Falcon Huntress from the 1880s, yet the detailed design is attractive, including the fancy diamond border, the rider's flamboyant clothing, and the castle in the background. The stamped and pierced button is made of French White Metal, c1940s.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Sunday, October 4, 2009

King Arthur: Knight with Cut Steel Border

King Arthur
Knight Wearing a Helmet
Stamped and Pierced Brass
c1880s
NBS Large


King Arthur - Button Back


This detailed King Arthur wears a plumed helmet. He has a distinguished face. The button is one piece stamped and pierced brass. The fancy border is embellished with 14 faceted and riveted cut steels. I like the dark patina. Sadly, someone at some point, cut the button's shank, leaving the loop elongated and broken. I knew this when I purchased the button, so I was happy with the button find, since I've never seen another like it.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Friday, October 2, 2009

Mother and Daughter Dragons with Cut Steel Bodies

Dragon/Cockatrice
Fabulous Creature
Mother and Daughter Buttons
NBS Small, NBS Large
c1880s


Dragon/Cockatrice
Mother and Daughter Buttons
Japanned Back


Buttons of the same design in two sizes, one larger and one smaller, are known in the "button world" as Mother and Daughter buttons. Often, some aspects of the "daughter" button are less distinct, as in the border of the smaller button, but the brass escutcheon dragon/cockatrice figures, and the dragon's cut steel bodies, are nearly identical, right down to the rooster comb, the snake-like neck, the open beak, and the detailed feathers.

The button depicts a version of the evil cockatrice, half serpent and half rooster, evolved in the middle ages from the concept of the basilisk. For more information on the cockatrice, and to compare the button's designs, see my earlier post, Fabulous Creature: Screen Back Dragon/ Cockatrice. The smaller of the two buttons is also pictured in my post, Dueling Dragons with Cut Steels.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button