Asian? Button ID Assistance - SOLVED

[Shootncoin]

Found this button at an 18th century homesite. Records indicate the original family of this home did extensive travel between Europe and the colonies. Button appears to depict a Geisha figure on the right, and a male subject on the left. Button is approximately the size of a penny, contains no backmark, and appears to be made of copper. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

 

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[CRUSADER]

Re: Asian? Button ID Assistance

Although its a 1 piece flat button, I believe these to be mid-late 19th century. I have found a few similar in the UK. I think it was probably British made (Birmingham/London), as there was a trend for these fashion items during the period that blue & white import china-ware was popular.

Also the design is not refined enough to be Asian (not even sure if they had buttons like this either)

 

[PBK]

Re: Asian? Button ID Assistance

This button is cataloged as "Oriental Lovers" in Hughes & Lester's The Big Book of Buttons (No. 15, Plate 234 - "Oriental Figures and Subjects," pp. 542-44). However, the book offers no indication of the button's age, origin, etc. Value was listed at $1 at the time of publication (1981), but could be closer to $5 today.

It probably dates from the late 1800's or early 1900's, when there was a major Oriental influence in fashion, inspired first by Gilbert & Sullivan's comic opera The Mikado in 1885, and later by Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly in 1904. Some of the buttons are thought to represent scenes from these operas, or from English translations of Oriental folk tales or stories published during the same period, to capitalize on the Asian craze.

 

[Montana Jim]

I woulda known that except my dog ate pages 542-44 in Hughes & Lester's The Big Book of Buttons.