🔎 UNIDENTIFIED Button Help Needed, Please and thank you!

[fyrffytr1]

Can anyone tell me anything about this 2 piece coat size button. Backmark reads *H Foley* Cork Hill/ Dublin. It is heavy for it's size at .25oz.

 

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[ColtsPop]

I would start looking around at Russian pre WWII buttons.

 

[Red-Coat]

Very nice button, but nothing to do with Russia. It’s an early 19th Century livery button. The backmark date is uncertain, but it’s from Hugh (?) Foley and likely predates the company’s known history as “Foley & Croker” between 1858-1868.

The design is usually attributed to the Seymour family, but others may have used it.

There was discussion recently about presence or absence of a “torse” on livery buttons. Here we have no torse since the phoenix is issuant from a coronet, which serves to separate the crest from the armorial.

 

[smokeythecat]

The Phoenix design is used on some government buttons from the Caribbean. I can't remember eactly which one though. Try that.

 

[Red-Coat]

The Phoenix design is used on some government buttons from the Caribbean. I can't remember eactly which one though. Try that.

I believe you're thinking of Haiti, but those buttons don't have the phoenix issuant from a Ducal coronet.

Foley's history is lost in the mists of time but the (presumed later) partnership with Croker has a listing in the Dublin Street Directory of 1862 as "Foley and Croker, button manufacturer and trimming warehouse, Foley H & Croker J" at 24 College Green, Dublin. Glenn Thompson from the National Museum of Ireland puts their date of operation between 1858-1868 so "H Foley" (solo) at the Cork Hill address is likely earlier. They seem to have predominantly made civilian and livery buttons.

See the button for the Seymour family at the link below, but note that there are stylistic differences (not unusual for heraldic interpretations) and also that Seymour may not be the only possibility.

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If you hear hooves, think "horse" not "zebra" as the saying goes.

 

[Bramblefind]

Here's an advertisement by Hugh Foley for his button manufactory -

Saunders's News-Letter - Wednesday 12 June 1839​

 

[fyrffytr1]

Here's an advertisement by Hugh Foley for his button manufactory -

Saunders's News-Letter - Wednesday 12 June 1839​

Thanks for the information.

 

[fyrffytr1]

I believe you're thinking of Haiti, but those buttons don't have the phoenix issuant from a Ducal coronet.

Foley's history is lost in the mists of time but the (presumed later) partnership with Croker has a listing in the Dublin Street Directory of 1862 as "Foley and Croker, button manufacturer and trimming warehouse, Foley H & Croker J" at 24 College Green, Dublin. Glenn Thompson from the National Museum of Ireland puts their date of operation between 1858-1868 so "H Foley" (solo) at the Cork Hill address is likely earlier. They seem to have predominantly made civilian and livery buttons.

See the button for the Seymour family at the link below, but note that there are stylistic differences (not unusual for heraldic interpretations) and also that Seymour may not be the only possibility.

Google Sites: Sign-in

Access Google Sites with a personal Google account or Google Workspace account (for business use).

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If you hear hooves, think "horse" not "zebra" as the saying goes.

Thank you for your help. I wouldn't know where to begin researching some of the stuff I have. Well, that's not 100% true. I always have T-Net to help!

 

[CRUSADER]

coronet, ducal, out of a | British Armorial Bindings

armorial.library.utoronto.ca

It's got a Ducal Coronet, like the one above.

 

[fyrffytr1]

coronet, ducal, out of a | British Armorial Bindings

armorial.library.utoronto.ca

It's got a Ducal Coronet, like the one above.

Thanks for the link. Some interesting reading there.

 

[Dixiebex]

Can anyone tell me anything about this 2 piece coat size button. Backmark reads *H Foley* Cork Hill/ Dublin. It is heavy for it's size at .25oz.View attachment 2070720View attachment 2070721

I might have a clue! After researching my family tree over the last several years, I finally found the crest that was granted to my English ancestor back in the latter 1700's- early 1800's. Additionally, the members who have commented that this is a livery button, are correct about its identity and the custom of their usage, along with the info about the ducal coronet. Note that crests could seem to be used by multiple peerage families but there were usually variations, however slight to the eye. See if the images I've attached could be a match. Good luck and this is a great find that would be of sentimental value to a member of the family. Thanks for posting!

 

[fyrffytr1]

I might have a clue! After researching my family tree over the last several years, I finally found the crest that was granted to my English ancestor back in the latter 1700's- early 1800's. Additionally, the members who have commented that this is a livery button, are correct about its identity and the custom of their usage, along with the info about the ducal coronet. Note that crests could seem to be used by multiple peerage families but there were usually variations, however slight to the eye. See if the images I've attached could be a match. Good luck and this is a great find that would be of sentimental value to a member of the family. Thanks for posting!

Thanks for the information.