tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50402793462671035402024-03-14T04:57:01.896-04:00Once Upon A Button~ An Appreciation of The Art of Antique Picture Buttons and Buttons Through Time ~ From My Personal Collection ~Once Upon a Buttonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14656004560622158324noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-72077518476305697802014-10-17T18:32:00.000-04:002020-02-01T18:32:33.597-05:00Sir Launfal's Dream: Seated Knight with a Lance and Shield<div align="center">
<strong><span style="font-size: 100%;"></span></strong><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqkBkNK7gQI/AAAAAAAABFU/65iyOcBhYu8/s1600-h/Sir+Renfell%27s+Dream.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379832951393190146" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqkBkNK7gQI/AAAAAAAABFU/65iyOcBhYu8/s400/Sir+Renfell's+Dream.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong> </strong><strong>Sir Launfal's Dream</strong><br />Seated Knight with Lance<br />Stamped and Tinted Brass<br />Japanned Back<br />NBS Small, 5/8"<br />c1880s</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqkBZSGGesI/AAAAAAAABFM/fIflt4Ejx4k/s1600-h/Sir+Renfell%27s+Dream+-+Back.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379832763736554178" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqkBZSGGesI/AAAAAAAABFM/fIflt4Ejx4k/s200/Sir+Renfell's+Dream+-+Back.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 200px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;"> Sir Launfal's Dream - Back</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">When I purchased this button, the dealer described it as Sir Renfel's Dream. I've since learned the button is correctly known as Sir Launfal's Dream after a collection of poems and a specific poem by James Russell Lowell titled <em>The Vision of Sir Launfal</em>, written by Lowell in 1848.<br /><br />The </span><a href="http://www.archive.org/details/visionofsirlaunf00lowe"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><em>Internet Archive</em> </span></a><span style="font-size: 130%;">describes it as "a narrative poem about a proud medieval knight who spends his life seeking abroad for the Holy Grail in vain, only to find it at home when he humbly gives a crust of bread and cup of water to a leper." The Archive contains several editions of the poetry collection, with differing introductions about Lowell and his work.<br /><br />This is an NBS small, two part picture button, made of stamped and tinted brass. The name of the button, alone, is intriguing, but the image of the dreaming knight, seated before the castle walls, fully armored right down to his spurs, his shield emblazoned with a star and a moon, clutching his lance in the crook of his arm, makes me glad I found his story. This button's detail is not sharp, but the image is evocative.<br /><br />You can read the text of the poem and see engraved illustrations from an early edition by clicking on this link: </span><a href="http://www.kellscraft.com/Launfal/launfalcontent.html"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><em>The Vision of Sir Launfal</em></span></a><span style="font-size: 130%;">.<br /><br />Here's a wonderful excerpt from the text of the poem, which is a great companion to the design of the button:<br /><br /><em>"My golden spurs now bring to me,<br />And bring to me my richest mail,<br />For to-morrow I go over land and sea<br />In search of the Holy Grail;<br />Shall never a bed for me be spread,<br />Nor shall a pillow be under my head,<br />Till I begin my vow to keep;<br />Here on the rushes will I sleep,<br />And perchance there may come a vision true<br />Ere day create the world anew."<br />Slowly Sir Launfal's eyes grew dim,<br />Slumber fell like a cloud on him,<br />And into his soul the vision flew.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Image and Text © 2010 Once Upon A Button </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 130%;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-44168364382718356162009-12-17T10:48:00.010-05:002014-10-17T18:36:21.661-04:00King Arthur with a Triple Bar Shank<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sw2gGOhAz6I/AAAAAAAABfc/LCU9PcwKzVc/s1600/King+Arthur+-+Triple+Bar+Shank+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408154756378054562" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sw2gGOhAz6I/AAAAAAAABfc/LCU9PcwKzVc/s400/King+Arthur+-+Triple+Bar+Shank+2.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>King Arthur</strong><br />Brass Picture Button<br />A P & Cie Paris<br />NBS Large<br />c1880s<br /></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sw2f9XOQrBI/AAAAAAAABfU/IKlefuNr9BI/s1600/King+Arthur+-+Triple+Bar+Shank+-+Paris+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 399px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408154604096498706" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sw2f9XOQrBI/AAAAAAAABfU/IKlefuNr9BI/s400/King+Arthur+-+Triple+Bar+Shank+-+Paris+Back.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>King Arthur</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Button Back</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />This King Arthur is a one piece solid brass picture button with a triple bar shank, backmarked A P & Cie Depose Paris. Impressive!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-9776723555897216042009-12-01T17:54:00.001-05:002016-02-07T14:47:20.295-05:00Trumpeter of Sakingen - High Relief<div align="center">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sw2e_q3TLhI/AAAAAAAABfE/oaAEDdSuV-U/s1600/Trumpeter+of+Sakingen+-+High+Relief+4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408153544217013778" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sw2e_q3TLhI/AAAAAAAABfE/oaAEDdSuV-U/s400/Trumpeter+of+Sakingen+-+High+Relief+4.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong> Trumpeter of Sakingen</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">Brass and Tinted White Metal</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">Circa 1880s</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">NBS Large</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sw2ewMghZuI/AAAAAAAABe8/WWfzWEbPQy4/s1600/Trumpeter+of+Sakingen+-+High+Relief+-+Back.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408153278370375394" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sw2ewMghZuI/AAAAAAAABe8/WWfzWEbPQy4/s200/Trumpeter+of+Sakingen+-+High+Relief+-+Back.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 200px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>Trumpeter of Sakingen</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">This Trumpeter of Sakingen picture button is atypical. See the <a href="http://buttonsthroughtime.blogspot.com/2009/11/trumpeter-of-sakingen.html">Trumpeter of Sakingen</a> below for another rare example, and for a link to the trumpeter's story. The front of this Trumpeter of Sakingen is a brass escutcheon mounted on a tinted white metal background. With his high boots and dashing plumed hat, Werner, the trumpeter, plays for the lovely Margaretha, and calls her to the window.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;">Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-41216931632157761912009-11-30T10:05:00.010-05:002014-10-17T18:36:21.649-04:00Trumpeter of Sakingen<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sw2eefdSg-I/AAAAAAAABe0/h6zqtd8aVzs/s1600/Trumpeter+of+Sakingen+-+Cut+Outs+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408152974219445218" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sw2eefdSg-I/AAAAAAAABe0/h6zqtd8aVzs/s400/Trumpeter+of+Sakingen+-+Cut+Outs+3.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Trumpeter of Sakingen</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Stamped and Pierced Brass</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cut-Outs, Shiny Steel Liner</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large<br /></span><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sw2eTg_SssI/AAAAAAAABes/4CFFtSWKJ6I/s1600/Trumpeter+of+Sakingen+-+Cut+Outs+-+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408152785651937986" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sw2eTg_SssI/AAAAAAAABes/4CFFtSWKJ6I/s200/Trumpeter+of+Sakingen+-+Cut+Outs+-+Back.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <strong>Trumpeter of Sakingen</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Japanned Back</span></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The Trumpeter of Sakingen is a common button design, but this version is not a common button. Note the cut-outs for the half moon, the city windows, and the waters of the Rhine River. It is a three part stamped, tinted, and pierced brass button, with a shiny metal liner, a japanned back, and a silver rim. I paid about six dollars, but I've seen the same button priced at fifty dollars. There is a cut-out for a full moon in an even rarer version.<br /></span><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />This button is another great example of the link between art, design, and popular culture. You can read the detailed story of The Trumpeter of Sakingen within the text of the <em><a href="http://www.archive.org/details/legendsofrhine00guer">Legends of the Rhine</a> </em>by H. A. Geurber (New York: A. S. Barnes & Co, c1895) found at the Internet Archive. Section 316 through 321 is Guerber's summary of the original poem, <em>The Trumpeter of Sakingen</em> by Scheffel. The story was made into an opera by Nessler, which is probably the reason for this button design's wide popularity.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span>Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-88297403958897876592009-11-17T14:29:00.009-05:002014-10-17T18:36:21.747-04:00Knight with Mace and Shield<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SwL8hoSidAI/AAAAAAAABd4/BTdmo8kvrFQ/s1600/Knight+with+Mace+and+Shield+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405160157479072770" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SwL8hoSidAI/AAAAAAAABd4/BTdmo8kvrFQ/s400/Knight+with+Mace+and+Shield+2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Knight with Mace and Shield</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Tinted Stamped Brass</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Three Piece Button<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SwL8Yy9IyUI/AAAAAAAABdw/_ZcV11hntNE/s1600/Knight+with+Mace+and+Shield+-+Back+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405160005723277634" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SwL8Yy9IyUI/AAAAAAAABdw/_ZcV11hntNE/s200/Knight+with+Mace+and+Shield+-+Back+3.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Knight with Mace and Shield</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Japanned Back</span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />I purchased this button knowing the knight's shield is dented. Some of my buttons I'm happy to accept with damage, if the price is right, and the damage fits the character of the button and the scene it depicts. I might expect a battle weary knight to have a dented shield.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />The button is made of stamped brass. It is constructed of a front, a rim, and a japanned back. Note the scaled armor that almost makes him look like a Roman soldier, rather than a medieval knight, but the mace and the decorated shield place him in a later time.<br /></span><br /></div><div align="left">Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-39645203080946585922009-11-12T14:27:00.019-05:002014-10-17T18:36:21.638-04:00Medieval Collection II<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VY-9MZBQcis/S9SyhljepuI/AAAAAAAAAIk/jrzSXzEYYPA/s1600/Medieval+Collection+II+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 315px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464188537993602786" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_VY-9MZBQcis/S9SyhljepuI/AAAAAAAAAIk/jrzSXzEYYPA/s400/Medieval+Collection+II+2.jpg" /></a> <div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Svxmw5rbM1I/AAAAAAAABdU/jBg7eeEay4w/s1600-h/Medieval+Collection+II+2.jpg"></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Medieval Theme Picture Buttons</span></strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span></strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></div></span><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Look forward to these buttons and more, in upcoming posts. This is a "working" card of buttons, not a permanent display, the shanks poked through archival card stock. Some of my favorites include the King Arthur buttons, the Walking Man, the Dragon, the Fabulous Creatures, the Trumpeter of Sankingens, the Castles, the Scottish Chiefs, the Crusader Knight, the Jester, the Medieval Villages - I believe I've named them all! If you click on the image, you will see them in greater detail. </span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">In future posts, they will be featured individually, with sharper focus and a photograph of their button backs. If you click on the label, Medieval Theme, below this post, you will view amazing buttons of Knights, Ladies, Minstrels, and Fabulous Creatures.<br /></span><br />Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button<br /><br /></div></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-81662398674091062612009-10-22T08:31:00.014-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.735-04:00Love's Messenger<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SuBRLvFzALI/AAAAAAAABas/ITnj7n5FWYM/s1600-h/Woman+Window+Swallow+Letter+-+Galena+Background.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395401615651045554" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SuBRLvFzALI/AAAAAAAABas/ITnj7n5FWYM/s400/Woman+Window+Swallow+Letter+-+Galena+Background.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Love's Messenger</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Bird Delivering a Letter</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">to a Woman at a Window</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Textured Background</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Stamped and Pierced Brass</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SuBRGgwTjDI/AAAAAAAABak/VCEnK4tDotc/s1600-h/Woman+Window+Swallow+Letter+2+-+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395401525903461426" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SuBRGgwTjDI/AAAAAAAABak/VCEnK4tDotc/s200/Woman+Window+Swallow+Letter+2+-+Back.jpg" /></a><strong> <span style="font-size:130%;">Love's Messenger</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Button Back</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />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!<br /><br /></span></div><div align="left">Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-76213574710673466732009-10-10T16:34:00.010-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.714-04:00Two King Arthur Buttons with Cut Steels<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsajXsP4NxI/AAAAAAAABPU/daSfYZkbNTE/s1600-h/King+Arthur+with+Cut+Steels+in+Four+Sizes.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 393px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388173631605454610" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsajXsP4NxI/AAAAAAAABPU/daSfYZkbNTE/s400/King+Arthur+with+Cut+Steels+in+Four+Sizes.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> King Arthur</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Knight with Shield and Sword</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Stamped and Pierced Brass</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Cut Steels in 4 Sizes</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsajQ5qKveI/AAAAAAAABPM/wwuAjJfgyYM/s1600-h/King+Arthur+with+Cut+Steels+in+Four+Sizes+-+Button+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388173514946297314" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsajQ5qKveI/AAAAAAAABPM/wwuAjJfgyYM/s320/King+Arthur+with+Cut+Steels+in+Four+Sizes+-+Button+Back.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <strong>King Arthur - Button Back</strong><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsajJO-YMwI/AAAAAAAABPE/v5ayEsSAbFM/s1600-h/King+Arthur+with+Cut+Steels.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388173383229256450" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsajJO-YMwI/AAAAAAAABPE/v5ayEsSAbFM/s400/King+Arthur+with+Cut+Steels.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <strong>King Arthur</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Knight with Shield and Sword</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Stamped and Pierced Brass</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Cut Steel Border</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">C1880s<br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsajBNL77nI/AAAAAAAABO8/MqJLwEAwzmo/s1600-h/King+Arthur+with+Cut+Steels+-+Button+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388173245310299762" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsajBNL77nI/AAAAAAAABO8/MqJLwEAwzmo/s320/King+Arthur+with+Cut+Steels+-+Button+Back.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> King Arthur - Button Back<br /></strong><br /><br /></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Ssai1zyMv9I/AAAAAAAABO0/OdApBHXwV3c/s1600-h/Two+King+Arthur+Buttons+with+Cut+Steels.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 182px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388173049512902610" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Ssai1zyMv9I/AAAAAAAABO0/OdApBHXwV3c/s400/Two+King+Arthur+Buttons+with+Cut+Steels.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Two King Arthurs</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Stamped and Pierced Brass</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Fancy Borders</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">One with 4 Sizes of Cut Steels </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">One with Same Size Cut Steels</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsaiuQtCy7I/AAAAAAAABOs/AxXV9_YJnFk/s1600-h/Two+King+Arthur+Buttons+with+Cut+Steels+-+Button+Backs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 201px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388172919836953522" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsaiuQtCy7I/AAAAAAAABOs/AxXV9_YJnFk/s400/Two+King+Arthur+Buttons+with+Cut+Steels+-+Button+Backs.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Two King Arthurs - Button Backs</span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />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 <a href="http://buttonsthroughtime.blogspot.com/2009/08/king-arthur-knight-in-armor.html">King Arthur</a> featured in an earlier post, that is equally impressive, but without the cut steel border. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />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.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />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.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />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.</span></div><div align="left"><br />Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-92022741826061742212009-10-08T15:36:00.007-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.751-04:00Falcon Hunter: French White Metal<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Ss4-2F9aomI/AAAAAAAABRw/1mho1Y5upqE/s1600-h/Falcon+Hunter+-+French+White+Metal.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390314903042695778" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Ss4-2F9aomI/AAAAAAAABRw/1mho1Y5upqE/s400/Falcon+Hunter+-+French+White+Metal.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Falcon Hunter</strong></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Stamped and Pierced</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">French White Metal</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1940s<br /></span><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsahlGFh_wI/AAAAAAAABOE/rK5-kP_c7zE/s1600-h/Falcon+Hunter+-+French+White+Metal+-+Button+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388171662856421122" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsahlGFh_wI/AAAAAAAABOE/rK5-kP_c7zE/s320/Falcon+Hunter+-+French+White+Metal+-+Button+Back.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Falcon Hunter - Button Back</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">This "falcon hunter" is a poor imitation of the original <a href="http://buttonsthroughtime.blogspot.com/2009/08/falcon-huntress.html">Falcon Huntress</a> 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.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-3511892269880254662009-10-04T14:17:00.006-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.627-04:00King Arthur: Knight with Cut Steel Border<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsaiS2u-etI/AAAAAAAABOk/8Vm1qgansRI/s1600-h/King+Arthur+with+Cut+Steel+Border.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388172449009269458" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsaiS2u-etI/AAAAAAAABOk/8Vm1qgansRI/s400/King+Arthur+with+Cut+Steel+Border.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <strong>King Arthur</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Knight Wearing a Helmet</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Stamped and Pierced Brass</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsaiLfcvM-I/AAAAAAAABOc/sJVTf5pf3_g/s1600-h/King+Arthur+with+Cut+Steel+Border+-+Button+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388172322499671010" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsaiLfcvM-I/AAAAAAAABOc/sJVTf5pf3_g/s320/King+Arthur+with+Cut+Steel+Border+-+Button+Back.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>King Arthur - Button Back</strong></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />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.<br /><br /></span></div><div align="left">Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-41437019563021981862009-10-02T23:39:00.008-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.653-04:00Mother and Daughter Dragons with Cut Steel Bodies<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsahDmK4ltI/AAAAAAAABN8/55t7VjchwNw/s1600-h/Dragon-Cockatrice+-+Mother+and+Daughter+2+resize.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388171087353255634" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SsahDmK4ltI/AAAAAAAABN8/55t7VjchwNw/s400/Dragon-Cockatrice+-+Mother+and+Daughter+2+resize.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Dragon/Cockatrice</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Fabulous Creature</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Mother and Daughter Buttons</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Small, NBS Large</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Ssag7LJHfDI/AAAAAAAABN0/feSzdBtbp2U/s1600-h/Dragon-Cockatrice+-+Mother+and+Daughter+-+Backs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 124px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388170942659132466" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Ssag7LJHfDI/AAAAAAAABN0/feSzdBtbp2U/s200/Dragon-Cockatrice+-+Mother+and+Daughter+-+Backs.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Dragon/Cockatrice</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Mother and Daughter Buttons</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Japanned Back</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />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. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />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, <a href="http://buttonsthroughtime.blogspot.com/2009/09/fabulous-creature-screen-back.html">Fabulous Creature: Screen Back Dragon/ Cockatrice</a>. The smaller of the two buttons is also pictured in my post, <a href="http://buttonsthroughtime.blogspot.com/2009/09/dueling-dragons-with-cut-steels.html">Dueling Dragons with Cut Steels</a>.<br /></span><br />Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-76694644066067504422009-09-24T11:18:00.020-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.723-04:00Landsknechts Trumpeter: Antique Picture Button<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SruOH68s_hI/AAAAAAAABMg/JkAgBAS69tw/s1600-h/Medieval+Trumpeter+-+Button+Front.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385054046185651730" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SruOH68s_hI/AAAAAAAABMg/JkAgBAS69tw/s400/Medieval+Trumpeter+-+Button+Front.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Landsknechts Trumpeter</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>with Short Sword and Shield</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Stamped and Pierced Brass</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large, 1 7/16"</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></div></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SruN9wkntUI/AAAAAAAABMY/5xgwcNpZwQU/s1600-h/Medieval+Trumpeter+-+Button+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385053871601595714" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SruN9wkntUI/AAAAAAAABMY/5xgwcNpZwQU/s320/Medieval+Trumpeter+-+Button+Back.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Landsknechts Trumpeter - Button Back</strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />The medieval trumpeter is made of stamped and pierced brass. Note his curled hair, his puffed and slashed doublet and hose, ruffled sleeves, and the plumed feathers in his cap, the dress of a German Landsknechts mercenary soldier. He adorns himself with a short sword and a decorated shield, and his trumpet with a plain, unfurled banner. The actual button is a uniform golden tone, but the photograph, with its slightly reddish cast, shows the elaborate detail.<br /></span><br /></div><div align="left">Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-21661480756937872032009-09-21T10:39:00.007-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.611-04:00Fabulous Creature: Screen Back Dragon/ Cockatrice<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SrbssvByE2I/AAAAAAAABLo/C6qezdXlDwU/s1600-h/Screenback+Cockatrice+Button+-+Fabulous+Creature+-+Extra+Large.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383750657850348386" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SrbssvByE2I/AAAAAAAABLo/C6qezdXlDwU/s400/Screenback+Cockatrice+Button+-+Fabulous+Creature+-+Extra+Large.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Fabulous Creature</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Screen Back Dragon/ Cockatrice</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Extra Large, 2" Wide</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Steel Metal Liner</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Tinted Two Piece</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Dragon Escutcheon<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SrbsjdJ0mtI/AAAAAAAABLg/M3LCFW_bsNY/s1600-h/Screenback+Cockatrice+Button+-+Fabulous+Creature+-+Extra+Large+-+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383750498433407698" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SrbsjdJ0mtI/AAAAAAAABLg/M3LCFW_bsNY/s200/Screenback+Cockatrice+Button+-+Fabulous+Creature+-+Extra+Large+-+Back.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Fabulous Creature</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Screen Back Dragon/ Cockatrice</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Button Back</span> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br />This truly Fabulous Creature is a 2 inch wide, extra large antique clothing button, circa 1880s, depicting a dragon-like creature known as a cockatrice. It would be categorized as an NBS large, but a button of this size is rare. The screen back is also rare. The main part of the button is made of one piece brass, with the front of the button constructed of the steel liner, the screen back, and the brass escutcheon of the fabulous creature. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />The photograph barely captures the majesty of this impressive button. The shiny metal liner is perfect, twinkling like the shiny bright metal you can observe in the photograph below the creature's breast, in contrast to the screen back, which is tinted almost black. In dragon mythology, a cockatrice is a cross between a rooster and a snake, evolved from the concept of the basilisk. Note the creature's beak, comb, claws, and feathers, and his otherwise dragon-like appearance. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />The flower tail is also a distinguishing mark, not because it bears any relation to a cockatrice, but because many button collectors are enthralled with owning "flower tail" dragons, the flower at the end of the tail added as an embellishment. Special thanks to my friend, Christine, for letting me know some of the dragons on my buttons are the "evil" cockatrice, lain by a rooster but hatched by a toad, its very glance capable of killing animal or human.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-75803503260165019152009-09-12T20:10:00.010-04:002021-08-01T20:37:26.769-04:00Genesis of a Button Collector/ Button Collecting Advice<div align="center">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqmPlznz7eI/AAAAAAAABGM/hlxi3QsE9QQ/s1600-h/Medieval+Woman+Wearing+Hennin.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379989109545889250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqmPlznz7eI/AAAAAAAABGM/hlxi3QsE9QQ/s400/Medieval+Woman+Wearing+Hennin.jpg" style="display: block; height: 397px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">One of My Favorite </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">Antique Picture Buttons</span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">I became a button collector when I was sixteen years old, visiting my grandmother in her two story wood frame house in upper Michigan, just before she sold it. I remember sorting buttons from a huge glass jar on the small table in her kitchen. She had diminutive metals and silvered glass, twinkle buttons, fun plastic faces, three large Syroco flower buttons, reverse painted clear glass, and Mexican hats. She had a large black crochet button, a row of tiny brass on a remnant of silk, dyed mother of pearl, bakelite ball buttons in yellow and red, and round black glass with faceted rhinestones. It's possible a few buttons came with her when she emigrated from Finland. They all became mine.<br /><br />Years later, I began looking for buttons in antique shops and at antique shows. I was about twenty-five when I acquired a small button stash from a shop going out of business, including heraldry buttons, transportation buttons, and a set of brass palm trees with silver gilt, all for $5 plus $3 for the trees, because I didn't know what they were worth, and neither did the dealer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">After that, my success at shops and shows was limited. At shows, I'd sometimes find a few buttons in a jewelry case, but they were often common or damaged and outrageously priced, partly because the dealers were generalists. Worse is when I found only plain plastic buttons in a pickle jar with a calico bonnet, passed off as "vintage" or "collectible," or 1970s plastics in a dusty box or a rusted tin. (Though my brother once found me one of those pickle jars and it contained some of my favorite buttons, several black glass and a carved mother-of-pearl.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">I visited the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine, Florida, and I was fascinated by what to me, at the time, was an incredible collection. (It still is, but I own buttons now, in some categories, to rival it!) I started purchasing books about buttons, and devouring the illustrations. I've never had the chance, to this day, to visit the National Button Society's annual button conference, or my state sponsored show, but, if you can afford it, that is a way to purchase buttons from reputable, knowledgeable, and enthused button dealers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">It's not my intention to promote commercial sites, but e-bay is where I've found most of my buttons. It's important to educate yourself about button designs and materials, and to bid cautiously as you are learning, and not to get caught up in the frenzy. Most button designs, not all, are common enough they will come up for purchase again; and if they don't, there's always another design to satisfy your artistic leanings; and there are some rarer buttons that only the truly rich or the insane can afford.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">There are also button dealers that sell from their own sites, but I've found the fixed prices are not always reasonable. It's possible, on e-bay, to sometimes get a deal, or at least a fair price, but it's also incredibly easy to pay way too much on a button that may indeed be beautiful, but common. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">As in all antiques, condition is everything. Only bid on a damaged button if you love the design, you're planning to keep it for yourself, and the price is right. When buying a button, I always ask myself, would I pay this price if it were a piece of jewelry?</span></div>
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Regarding jewelry made of buttons- never, never, never buy a piece of jewelry, where the button's shank has been removed- it's like separating Lyra from her daemon. The button will no longer have any value as a button, and a piece of history will be forever destroyed. Almost always, the value of the button, as a button, is greater than the ephemeral button conglomerate the jewelry has become.</div>
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Another way to develop your collection, is to ask family members and friends if they or their relatives have any clothing buttons from an earlier generation. Though buttons from the mid to late twentieth century will never rival those of the nineteenth and the turn of the century, modern buttons from the 1920s through the 1960s can be a lot of fun with a surprising variety of subjects and materials, including the Art Deco era and early types of plastics like bakelite and extruded celluloid.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's possible to purchase beautiful antique, Victorian, and Art Nouveau buttons for as little as $2 to $6 a piece. Glass, pewter, and vegetable ivory buttons are often sold in groups, bringing the price down to as little as 50 cents each, depending on the size and complexity of the buttons. In general, the larger the button, the higher the price. Most of the metal picture buttons depicted on my site range in price from $12 to $24, and I've purchased some for as little as $6, or as much as $38. I don't feel like I've ever paid too much for a button, because a few years later, they've still held their value; and I purchase to keep my buttons, not to sell.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I started this blog as a celebration of antique clothing buttons, and a place to feature the best of my permanent collection, photographing both the front and the backs of the buttons, and at a high resolution, so the buttons can be studied for their artistry and construction. For additional and more comprehensive sources of information on buttons and button collecting, I've provided links to button organizations and museums on my sidebar, including a link for the National Button Society (United States), and the British Button Society.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Soon, I'll be posting a bibliography of the button books I own, indicating which of the books are currently in print or likely to be available in libraries. The books are a joy in and of themselves, so if you can't afford buttons or don't have the space to store them, you might decide instead to buy a book, or to borrow them from your local library, or through interlibrary loan. Still, a picture of a button on a printed page is not the same as a button you can hold (carefully, by the edges, so not to transfer moisture or oils to the surface!). </span></div>
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Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-80590122684770653832009-09-07T23:20:00.015-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.731-04:00Falcon Huntress with a Pierced Border<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqRhdjGHFlI/AAAAAAAABC0/zLdIvbdqmuY/s1600-h/Falcon+Huntress+2+-+Pierced+Border.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378531015252186706" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqRhdjGHFlI/AAAAAAAABC0/zLdIvbdqmuY/s400/Falcon+Huntress+2+-+Pierced+Border.jpg" /></a><strong> <span style="font-size:130%;">Falcon Huntress</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Stamped and Tinted Brass</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Pierced Border</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large, 1 3/8"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></div></span><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqRhUvmORXI/AAAAAAAABCs/Ob9AcZcqGvI/s1600-h/Falcon+Huntress+2+-+Pierced+Border+-+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378530863989278066" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqRhUvmORXI/AAAAAAAABCs/Ob9AcZcqGvI/s400/Falcon+Huntress+2+-+Pierced+Border+-+Back.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Falcon Huntress - Pierced Border - Back</strong></span> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">If this Falcon Huntress seems familiar, it is because she is patterned after the <a href="http://buttonsthroughtime.blogspot.com/2009/08/falcon-huntress.html">Falcon Huntress</a> I featured in an earlier post. Both share the same basic design. The Falcon Huntress rides side saddle as she leaps a fence, her loyal hound running beneath it. She wears a high necked gown and a hennin with a flowing veil. This button is a stamped and tinted brass disc framed by a stamped, tinted and pierced brass border. I enjoy both buttons, but my favorite of the two is the version with the cut steel border.<br /></span><br />Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-19891067468427717112009-09-05T20:28:00.012-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.602-04:00Dueling Dragons with Cut Steels: Antique Picture Buttons<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqE0L8JVzJI/AAAAAAAABAE/JnI4r-XrUhw/s1600-h/Dragon+Cut+Steel+Body+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377636809785592978" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqE0L8JVzJI/AAAAAAAABAE/JnI4r-XrUhw/s400/Dragon+Cut+Steel+Body+2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Dragon/Cockatrice</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>with Cut Steel Body</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Two Piece</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Tinted Brass</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Japanned Back</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Small, 11/16"<br /><br /></span></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqE0C1RjogI/AAAAAAAAA_8/3UioftAe8aY/s1600-h/Dragon+Cut+Steels+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377636653322183170" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqE0C1RjogI/AAAAAAAAA_8/3UioftAe8aY/s400/Dragon+Cut+Steels+2.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Dragon with Cut Steels</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">One Piece</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Tinted Brass</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Small, 11/16"<br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqEz4G9xEKI/AAAAAAAAA_0/1nq0mg5nx9Q/s1600-h/Dueling+Dragons+with+Cut+Steels+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 169px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377636469092454562" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqEz4G9xEKI/AAAAAAAAA_0/1nq0mg5nx9Q/s400/Dueling+Dragons+with+Cut+Steels+2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <strong>Dueling Dragons with Cut Steels</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqEzsxtqaPI/AAAAAAAAA_s/oqyAq_0qgrs/s1600-h/Two+Dragon+Buttons+2+-+Backs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 166px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377636274409203954" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SqEzsxtqaPI/AAAAAAAAA_s/oqyAq_0qgrs/s400/Two+Dragon+Buttons+2+-+Backs.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> Dueling Dragons - Backs</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">These buttons are great examples of the art of button construction and design. They both depict dragons (AKA fabulous creatures) with cut steels. The dragon with a cut steel body is made in three main parts with a front, a back, and a rim. He is a depiction of a cockatrice (without his legs or rooster comb). The second dragon is a one piece stamped brass button with four riveted and faceted cut steels. The term "fabulous creature" applies to all dragon or dragon-like creatures depicted on buttons. When placed together, the two creatures appear to be in opposition. I'm fascinated by the exceptional detail on buttons that are just shy of 3/4".<br /></span></div><br /><div align="left">Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-50153692338432105072009-09-02T22:00:00.018-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.669-04:00Immo and Hildegard: Story Button<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sp63AIGAyCI/AAAAAAAAA8k/F0O4387tWrQ/s1600-h/1+Button+-+Immo+and+Hildegard.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376936217927534626" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sp63AIGAyCI/AAAAAAAAA8k/F0O4387tWrQ/s400/1+Button+-+Immo+and+Hildegard.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Immo and Hildegard</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Story Button </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Stamped and Pierced</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Tinted Brass</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Shiny Metal Liner</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Medium, 1 3/16"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1890s</span></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sp625N_6QjI/AAAAAAAAA8c/p_xSxm8qIeg/s1600-h/2+Button+-+Immo+and+Hildegard+-+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376936099253469746" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sp625N_6QjI/AAAAAAAAA8c/p_xSxm8qIeg/s400/2+Button+-+Immo+and+Hildegard+-+Back.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Immo and Hildegard - Japanned Back</strong><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sp62yfsjObI/AAAAAAAAA8U/IfMoMq0-RUk/s1600-h/3+Immo+and+Hildegard+Text+Cropped.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 306px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376935983745022386" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sp62yfsjObI/AAAAAAAAA8U/IfMoMq0-RUk/s400/3+Immo+and+Hildegard+Text+Cropped.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>~ Immo and Hildegard ~ </strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>from </em>Gustav Freytag's <em>The Wren's Nest</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Printed in the book</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham, 1810-1897 </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">A Revised American Edition </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">of the Readers' Handbook Volume II (1892)<br /><br /></span></div><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sp62sH005uI/AAAAAAAAA8M/p5hwu5-Uq40/s1600-h/4+Immo+and+Hildegard+Crop.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 288px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376935874258069218" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Sp62sH005uI/AAAAAAAAA8M/p5hwu5-Uq40/s400/4+Immo+and+Hildegard+Crop.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Immo and Hildegard</strong></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Artist - H. Kaulbach</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Printed in the book</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Brewer, Ebenezer Cobham, 1810-1897 </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">A revised American Edition </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">of the Readers' Handbook Volume II (1892)</span></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />There is a beautiful story to go with this button. The button is known as Immo and Hildegard, or, the Lover's Meeting. It is a stamped and pierced brass button, mounted over a shiny metal liner, with a japanned back. At 1 3/16", it is 1/16" shy of being an NBS Large. The streaks in the silver liner are an artifact of the photograph, and do not appear on the actual button. If you click on the image above, you can read about Immo and Hildegard. The full text is available from the The University of Wisconsin's Digital Collections, as printed in <em><a href="http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/Literature/Literature-idx?type=turn&entity=Literature.CobSketchv02.p0462&id=Literature.CobSketchv02&isize=M&pview=hide">Character Sketches of Romance, Fiction and the Drama</a></em>, circa 1892. The entry starts on Page 204 and continues on Page 205, with the print and a frontispiece sandwiched between them.</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Freytag's story of Immo and Hildegard, and H. Kaulbach's image are in the public domain. I wonder if H. Kaulbach had anything to do with the design of this button, since it is clearly patterned after the woodcut illustrating Freytag's story. I also haven't been able to determine how long a work the original volume, <em>The Wren's Nest</em>, might be, because what is printed in <em>Character Sketches</em> is flowery and romantic, but brief. Freytag, a controversial German novelist and playwright, lived from 1816-1895. Kaulbach is probably Hermann Kaulbauch (1846-1909), a German artist best known for his portraits of children.</span></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-77667983591996857952009-09-01T21:50:00.004-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.727-04:00Guest Book<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpycX07DfaI/AAAAAAAAA6w/i4Hj1Ekr3vI/s1600-h/Button+Collage+Close+Up+Frame+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376343988330790306" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpycX07DfaI/AAAAAAAAA6w/i4Hj1Ekr3vI/s400/Button+Collage+Close+Up+Frame+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">If you have one or more buttons you treasure, you are a button collector. If you appreciate the design, artistry, and construction of antique buttons, you are a button fan. Either way, please sign this guest book by writing a comment, and let everyone know a little about your passions.<br /><br />Do you own family heirloom buttons? How did you begin button collecting? What types of buttons do you collect? What do you enjoy most about antique buttons? If you were to design a picture button, what theme would you choose to depict? What is your favorite button material? What is your favorite antique button era? If you've saved buttons from your childhood, what memories can you attach to them?<br /><br />This moderated guest book is open to whatever information you'd like to include. And comments on individual buttons are always welcome!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-76650018943726126622009-08-30T00:17:00.020-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.719-04:00Romeo and Juliet: Medieval Couple<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Spn4KV2GhZI/AAAAAAAAA1E/ZyClUHB5rD0/s1600-h/Romeo+and+Juliet+4.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375600486789842322" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Spn4KV2GhZI/AAAAAAAAA1E/ZyClUHB5rD0/s400/Romeo+and+Juliet+4.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Romeo and Juliet</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Art Nouveau</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Stamped and Pierced</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">White Metal</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Couples Button</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Medium, 1 1/16"<br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Spn3_wETvhI/AAAAAAAAA08/dbmSgg7IYH0/s1600-h/Romeo+and+Juliet+-+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375600304850189842" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Spn3_wETvhI/AAAAAAAAA08/dbmSgg7IYH0/s400/Romeo+and+Juliet+-+Back.jpg" /> <p align="center"></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Romeo and Juliet - Back</strong></span></p><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />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.<br /><br /></span>Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-21359644786279211342009-08-29T00:19:00.009-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.606-04:00Trumpeter: French White Metal Button<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpimQaE7ZGI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/ejD5LEFxeqg/s1600-h/Trumpeter+-+White+Metal+6.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375228956074796130" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpimQaE7ZGI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/ejD5LEFxeqg/s400/Trumpeter+-+White+Metal+6.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Trumpeter</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Stamped and Pierced</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">French White Metal</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1940s</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large, 1 7/16"<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpimJRYGKqI/AAAAAAAAAyI/dvw5TEg6ZL0/s1600-h/Trumpeter+-+White+Metal+-+Back+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375228833480190626" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpimJRYGKqI/AAAAAAAAAyI/dvw5TEg6ZL0/s400/Trumpeter+-+White+Metal+-+Back+2.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> Trumpeter - Back</span></strong></div><div align="center"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />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.)<br /></span><br />Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-58029162277608984862009-08-28T11:37:00.016-04:002016-02-07T14:47:57.308-05:00Battle Knight on a Charging Horse: French White Metal Button<div align="center">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Spf6fp-8-MI/AAAAAAAAAxI/z0n891gJrhE/s1600-h/Knight+on+Horseback.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375040102042761410" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Spf6fp-8-MI/AAAAAAAAAxI/z0n891gJrhE/s400/Knight+on+Horseback.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-size: 130%;"> <strong>Knight on Horseback</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">Stamped and Pierced</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">French White Metal</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">c1940s</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">NBS Large, 1 1/2"<br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Spf6YqBOF1I/AAAAAAAAAxA/xNti20Lhxd4/s1600-h/Knight+on+Horseback+-+Back.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375039981793187666" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Spf6YqBOF1I/AAAAAAAAAxA/xNti20Lhxd4/s400/Knight+on+Horseback+-+Back.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><strong><span style="font-size: 130%;">Knight on Horseback - Back</span></strong> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><br />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.</span><br />
Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-71023510695018846692009-08-27T15:12:00.018-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.702-04:00Knight at the Door Bearing a Shield<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpbbnSQrNpI/AAAAAAAAAw4/VNLv-YjoJG0/s1600-h/Knight+at+the+Door+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374724673276425874" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpbbnSQrNpI/AAAAAAAAAw4/VNLv-YjoJG0/s400/Knight+at+the+Door+2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <strong>Knight at the Door</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large, 1 3/8"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">One Piece Stamped Brass</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Riveted Cut Steels</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Border with Screw Heads<br /><br /><br /></span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpbbgtK2sTI/AAAAAAAAAww/6oFvaA7yRTQ/s1600-h/Knight+at+the+Door+-+Side+View.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374724560240685362" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpbbgtK2sTI/AAAAAAAAAww/6oFvaA7yRTQ/s400/Knight+at+the+Door+-+Side+View.JPG" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> Knight at the Door - Angled View<br /><br /></span></strong><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpbbYqDdR4I/AAAAAAAAAwo/qlpMhelGAK4/s1600-h/Knight+at+the+Door+-+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374724421965399938" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpbbYqDdR4I/AAAAAAAAAwo/qlpMhelGAK4/s400/Knight+at+the+Door+-+Back.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <strong>Knight at the Door - Back<br /><br /></strong></span><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpbbQ795j_I/AAAAAAAAAwg/-UA-8PlqfX4/s1600-h/Three+Knights+at+the+Door+-+Front.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 154px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374724289334972402" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpbbQ795j_I/AAAAAAAAAwg/-UA-8PlqfX4/s400/Three+Knights+at+the+Door+-+Front.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Knight at the Door - Three Brothers<br /></strong><br /></span><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpbbI254V3I/AAAAAAAAAwY/QOhodG3pWb4/s1600-h/Three+Knights+at+the+Door.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 143px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374724150536984434" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpbbI254V3I/AAAAAAAAAwY/QOhodG3pWb4/s400/Three+Knights+at+the+Door.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Knight at the Door - Three Brothers - Back</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />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. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />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.<br /><br /></span><br />Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-40110563995659444192009-08-26T12:50:00.007-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.642-04:00Fierce Crusader Knight: King Richard the Lionheart<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9B-lSEakYO_GdROQ6hO3TN8Iyr76Gpx08Ph5sSI87Be6yQH1zfQX0AcV3maE5au-16fBA9NZRL_dWn36wVtCWkzJRhLmvhlg_9Zc6iLAoGoOGwgPdneNo2bZcI6BZ22Sxxea4p3OccMH/s1600-h/Crusader+Knight.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374687638691851730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY9B-lSEakYO_GdROQ6hO3TN8Iyr76Gpx08Ph5sSI87Be6yQH1zfQX0AcV3maE5au-16fBA9NZRL_dWn36wVtCWkzJRhLmvhlg_9Zc6iLAoGoOGwgPdneNo2bZcI6BZ22Sxxea4p3OccMH/s400/Crusader+Knight.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> <strong>Fierce Crusader Knight</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1880s</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">One Piece Stamped Brass</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Riveted and Faceted Cut Steels</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large, 1 7/16"</span></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Spa5lXgKIeI/AAAAAAAAAv4/QQ_aOC83taE/s1600-h/Crusader+Knight+-+Back+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374687256928461282" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/Spa5lXgKIeI/AAAAAAAAAv4/QQ_aOC83taE/s400/Crusader+Knight+-+Back+2.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> Fierce Crusader Knight - Back</span></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br />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.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br />Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-82141558029159973932009-08-25T07:34:00.022-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.739-04:00Troubadour of Love: French White Metal<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpPNMi2sz4I/AAAAAAAAAvQ/19HV7aAgNzo/s1600-h/Troubador.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 399px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373864395781492610" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpPNMi2sz4I/AAAAAAAAAvQ/19HV7aAgNzo/s400/Troubador.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Troubadour</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">French White Metal</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Inset Marcasite</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Fancy Border</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">NBS Large, 1 7/16"</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">c1940s </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Heart Shield<br /><br /><br /></div></span><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpPMynAqVDI/AAAAAAAAAvI/-hZXFOZYI3A/s1600-h/Troubador+-+Back.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 395px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373863950220416050" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpPMynAqVDI/AAAAAAAAAvI/-hZXFOZYI3A/s400/Troubador+-+Back.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> Troubadour - Back</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br />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. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">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.<br /></span><br /></div><div align="left">Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5040279346267103540.post-37146960926554565802009-08-23T22:38:00.016-04:002014-10-17T18:36:21.634-04:00Jousting Knights: Shield Border<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpH9lxUHrJI/AAAAAAAAAvA/1Wlo9weRFP4/s1600-h/Jousting+Knights.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpH9lxUHrJI/AAAAAAAAAvA/1Wlo9weRFP4/s400/Jousting+Knights.jpg" lk="true" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Jousting Knights</span></strong></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><strong>Shield Border</strong></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><strong>c1880s</strong></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><strong>One Piece</strong></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><strong>Stamped and Pierced Brass</strong></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><strong>NBS Large, 1 5/8"<br /><br /><br /></strong></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><a style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; MARGIN-RIGHT: 1em" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpH9T47-_UI/AAAAAAAAAu4/RuxjC1iWugA/s1600-h/Jousting+Knights+-+Back.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Qi8IV_f6X_o/SpH9T47-_UI/AAAAAAAAAu4/RuxjC1iWugA/s400/Jousting+Knights+-+Back.jpg" lk="true" /></a></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Jousting Knights - Back</span></strong></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; CLEAR: both" class="separator"></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; CLEAR: both" class="separator"><span style="font-size:large;"><br /><br /><br />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.</span></div><br />Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A ButtonUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0