Figurine Button ID? (Fortitude)

[Don in SJ]

I found this one a couple years ago and never got a good ID on it. Not sure if the lady leaning on the scroll like pulpit is significant or not. It was found at a homestead that yielded some pewter buttons, a couple 1700 era Large cents and some large buttons and some early to early mid 1800 era buttons, however I also recovered a Boyd's Battery relic, which I believe was later in the 1800's into early 1900's.
No backmark, what you see in the photos is what I see. Button is 22mm in diameter.
Oh, I think at one time, I thought there was perhaps a child at her feet.
Don

 

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[PBK]

Re: Figurine Button ID?

A number of 18th and early 19th century medals depicted Hope in a similar pose, often leaning on an anchor as shown below. Perhaps the figure depicted here is a personification of Hope as well.

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[Montana Jim]

Re: Figurine Button ID?

Just noticing the extream similarities in the indicated areas...

 

[Don in SJ]

Re: Figurine Button ID?

PBK and Jim, I looked and looked and other than finding what PBK posted, I found nothing else on anything about Hope. Now one thing I think think that keeps the figure with the same theme is, my button does not have her resting on an anchor, but I believe that is a rope border going around the button, perhaps keeping the Naval theme?

It is a nice button and I always keep my eyes open for similar finds in order to help identify.

Don

 

[Iron Patch]

Re: Figurine Button ID?

Neat button Don. Not sure you'll ever get more than a ID of the general use, Livery, Sportmens, etc..

Here is similar one found by a friend a couple of months ago.

 

[Don in SJ]

Re: Figurine Button ID? Solved !!!

I have been researching my file photos of buttons to decide what to include in my Powerpoint presentation on "buttons" I will be giving at February's SJMDC meeting and I came upon the Figurine button and looked up this old post and saw that I never got a definite answer to who was on the button and what it represented.

So last night I posted this old post link on the Colonial Coin Collectors forum and finally got a answer that I surely agree with and consider the button ID solved.

John L from the forum sent me this information which I totally accept as a good answer.

Don
Allegorical figures of virtues traditionally always depict them personified as women. Classical images depict Fortitude as a woman but based on antique images of Minerva. The neo-classicists of colonial America knew this and when they depicted Fortitude allegorically more probably than not made her image influenced by contemporary concepts of ideal of feminine beauty, hence the bun coiffure.

Hope is depicted with an anchor; Truth holds a mirror, Justice hold a sword and so on. What you are seeing are various allegorical figures and since they resemble one another you are mistaking them to represent ONLY Hope. Each one represents a specific virtue expressed by the distinguishing element found with her. In your case it is a pillar or column and this means FORTITUDE, not Hope. Hope has an anchor. Think of the allegorical figures as Vanna White being photographed in different poses along with a symbol. You have the photo of her with a column, which signifies Fortitude. The other photo of her with an anchor signifies Hope.

John


Here is a link for those who find the one with the Anchor, which would be Hope, it explains a little about it. http://whalingmuseumblog.org/2009/08/03/hope-and-the-anchor/

 

[Ramitt]

huh, very interesting. Glad you got your answer.

 

[Iron Patch]

When you said identify I thought you were talking beyond what the symbol meant. I knew the anchor was a symbol of hope, and scales Justice, so probably could have figured that one out had I went looking.