Button with Decorated back but slick front???

[BioProfessor]

I've started to clean some buttons I found last winter around Charleston, SC. Most buttons I understand and can find some examples of or at least get close. This one, however, doesn't fit with my knowledge base. On the BACK, it has an Eagle - facing left - wings spread - talons holding arrows at the "top" and then a laurel wreath type design starting at the bottom and coming up the sides. The edge of the button is steep. The front of the button is plain. I just don't get this type of "Backmark." Any ideas or direction would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Daryl

 

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[IronSpike]

Difficult to make out much from pics/condition of button. Recall reading in this forum that many early 1800's British civilian buttons had patriotic motives like wreaths, eagles. I think this would be one of them. Nice button

 

[BioProfessor]

Condition of back is pretty good. I've just started cleaning and thought there would enough detail to "match" it to a known button.

Did the ones mentioned on the forum have the Eagle and Wreath on the back and nothing on the front?? That's what I don't get.

Thanks,

Daryl

 

[IronSpike]

I don't think there was anything on the front, but a flat civilian button with decoration on back. Being a civilian button finding a match might be very difficult.

I'll see if I can find the thread.

Here is the thread:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,271324.0.html

 

[BioProfessor]

That would be great. I appreciate it. The ridge around the back makes the button look like a British trade weight on first glance if that helps.

Thanks,

Daryl

 

[BioProfessor]

Thanks for the link IronSpike. Believe it or not, I just got finished cleaning the olive oil and some of the crap off the same button.

I am used to seeing words like - "Plated" "Treble Gilt" "Extra Quality" along with stars and a crown to signify British origin on plain front buttons and many times the company that made them. Just never seen what I would consider a US decoration on the back of a button and nothing on the front. Maybe your link is as close as we can get. I've just never seen one like it before.

Thanks for the help.

Daryl

 

[BioProfessor]

Well, I found something sorta like it. At least it has the design on the back and a slick front. Getting close

Daryl

 

[IronSpike]

Is it a star to the right of the eagle?

 

[BioProfessor]

Seems to be. There is "crud" still remaining on the left of the eagle in the same place. I'd bet there is one there as well.

Daryl

 

[Don in SJ]

I'm sure I have one or two identical to yours, later today I will look for them and post photos and any info I have. The Eagle button you posted is a tad later in time.

Oh, all of the buttons that have the crowns, Eagles, Prince of Wales feathers are all plain faced flatties, including the type with the wreath you have found.

Don

 

[BioProfessor]

Thanks Don!! That would be great.

I posted the eagle button as it was the first plain front button that had just a design on the back. Others had decorations mixed in with the more traditional backmark stuff - "Quality," "Treble Gilt," "Standard," "London," etc. and since the one I found has none of that, it just puzzled me.

Help me out a bit on this button. On British buttons, I have never found or seen an eagle not associated with a crown. I have also never seen a British button with an eagle with arrows in its talons. No crown, so is this button not British but US??

I'm confused. (Just normal for me though.)

Daryl

 

[duggap]

One little bit of info. I can't verify my source right now, but I have heard of one company who produced a lot of the buttons with the eagle on the face. Then due to overruns or flaws or whatever, they were turned over and had a shank attached with a plain face. There have been several of those found in our area. If I remember correct, this was done before the civil war.

 

[BioProfessor]

Thanks Duggap! I have seen several of what I think you mean on the web. The Eagle is pretty large and centered with some sort of wreath/leaves on the edge. And you are right, the shank is attached in the middle of the button and therefore the Eagle. On this one, it seems that the center was "reserved??" for something else. It makes sense that these buttons may be ones that were overruns or extra inventory or maybe just not "center stamped." They were then turned into plain faced buttons. The problem with that scenario for this button is the heavy rim and flat bottom like a trade weight. It's not domed or edge turned. It's just weird.

In the same pile of buttons, I found another one that is plain faced with decorations on the back. It is domed with no ridge and it has the wreath but has "Plated" written on it. That seems to fit a "typical" backmark.

Thanks for the research and ideas. I, too, think it is pre-CW. It's just a strange button but that's what makes the finds more fun.

Daryl