French Navy Button?

[West Jersey Detecting]

SOLVED!! French Navy Button 1824 - 1840

I was cleaning out the office and this button was behind some papers. It looked like a common convex button until I noticed the crushed shank is a birdcage shank. Once I realized it was an uncommon find I cleaned it up as much as possible and realize there is a fouled anchor on the front and some lettering along the edge.

There is also a backmark, but all I can make out appears to be "...PELLE"

My guess based on the quality of the metal that this is a Crimean War era button, but I am hoping I am wrong and it is a bit older.

I wish I knew how long it was hidden behind the papers, as I have no idea where I found it.

Can any button experts help with the ID?

 

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[DCMatt]

No. Yours must be from a different country. It doesn't match the French Navy button example I found on the internet.



Sorry.

DCMatt

 

[DCMatt]

Maybe this will help.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/what/273634-button-experts-help-nj-attic-find.html

I also saw one on ebay but it did not have letters on it.

DCMatt

 

[ticm]

Man Neil you even find good stuff in your office.

 

[daroofa]

Could be "Pro Pelle Cutem" which was the motto for the Hudson Bay Company. It roughly translates to "we risk our skins to get furs".

 

[BuckleBoy]

Can you make out any of the letters on the face of the button?

 

[DCMatt]

Any chance the button front says "Honi soit qui mal y pense" ?

DCMatt

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

No. Yours must be from a different country. It doesn't match the French Navy button example I found on the internet.

If you look closely, there are dozens of variations of naval buttons from France. The telltale indication of the origin of the button is the birdcage shank, which is notoriously (but not exclusively) French.

I did finally match the backmark to a French button manufacturer, "CREPELLE/PARIS", which narrows it down 1804 - 1869.

Can you make out any of the letters on the face of the button?

BB, on the left it appears to be "CULTA..." or "COLFA..." or "CULTA..." Unfortunately the button is corroded and any attempt to clean it may damage it even more.

 

[DCMatt]

Nicely done on the backmark, Neil.

I thought the first readable letter on the front was an O or a Q. Could it say "EQUIPAGE"?

DCMatt

 

[DCMatt]

 

[DCMatt]

 

[DCMatt]

Here is another one like yours with the same backmark. Anybody read French?

2eme serie boutons l'ancre n38666

DCMatt

 

[DCMatt]

The last post is from a French metal detecting "What is it" forum in 2006. There was no additional info to identify the button.

DCMatt

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

Here is another one like yours with the same backmark. Anybody read French?

2eme serie boutons l'ancre n38666



DCMatt

Nice work! That would appear to be the button! Translation is "Crews Line"

 

[West Jersey Detecting]

EXCELLENT WORK, DC!!!!!

Equipages de Ligne (Line Crew)
1824 - 1840



View attachment 645343

 

[DCMatt]

Teamwork.

DCMatt

 

[BuckleBoy]

Well done, folks! Some fantastic ID work there.