Sir Launfal's Dream: Seated Knight with a Lance and Shield

Sir Launfal's Dream
Seated Knight with Lance
Stamped and Tinted Brass
Japanned Back
NBS Small, 5/8"
c1880s

Sir Launfal's Dream - Back

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 The Vision of Sir Launfal, written by Lowell in 1848.

The Internet Archive 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.

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.

You can read the text of the poem and see engraved illustrations from an early edition by clicking on this link: The Vision of Sir Launfal.

Here's a wonderful excerpt from the text of the poem, which is a great companion to the design of the button:

"My golden spurs now bring to me,
And bring to me my richest mail,
For to-morrow I go over land and sea
In search of the Holy Grail;
Shall never a bed for me be spread,
Nor shall a pillow be under my head,
Till I begin my vow to keep;
Here on the rushes will I sleep,
And perchance there may come a vision true
Ere day create the world anew."
Slowly Sir Launfal's eyes grew dim,
Slumber fell like a cloud on him,
And into his soul the vision flew.

Image and Text © 2010 Once Upon A Button

Fabulous Creature: Screen Back Dragon/ Cockatrice

Fabulous Creature

Screen Back Dragon/ Cockatrice

NBS Large

Extra Large, 2" Wide

c1880s

Steel Metal Liner

Tinted Two Piece

Dragon Escutcheon

Fabulous Creature

Screen Back Dragon/ Cockatrice

Button Back

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.

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.

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.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button

Minerva: Mythology Button

~ Minerva ~

c1880s

Brass and Silver Metal

Two Piece Construction

NBS Medium

~ Minerva ~

Back View

I acquired this button at a bargain price. The picture on the listing was blurred, but the price was right, and I took the chance on her as a compliment to the button, Winter. She arrived in perfect condition, in need only of a light buffing with a cotton cloth to remove old polish, which thankfully, hadn't destroyed her patina (It's best not to polish brass or metal buttons, but to carefully buff them). She is Minerva, goddess of wisdom, and patron of industry, agriculture and the arts. Note her dolphin helmet, the sheaves of wheat in her hair, and the head of Medusa worn at her breast. The pierced (openwork) button is in two parts. It is difficult to tell from the picture, but the brass Minerva is inset into silver metal.

Image and Text © 2009 Anne AKA Once Upon A Button