help needed with a very interesting button

[diggervet]

Hi, hoping someone will recognize the motif or design on this button found by a friend of mine. It was found several years ago in Virginia near High Bridge near route 460. Thanks for the input!

 

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[RestoringYourFinds]

That is indeed gorgeous!

 

[smokeythecat]

Pretty button. Not military. Would like to see the back. It could easily be Georgian (late 18th century). The late 18th century has been called the golden age of button making.

 

[diggervet]

Pretty button. Not military. Would like to see the back. It could easily be Georgian (late 18th century). The late 18th century has been called the golden age of button making.

I'll get a picture and dimensions out in the morning, thanks for the reply!

 

[diggervet]

Pretty button. Not military. Would like to see the back. It could easily be Georgian (late 18th century). The late 18th century has been called the golden age of button making.

here's a picture of the back, not much there but it's 1.4 inches in diameter. Thanks again!

 

[G.A.P.metal]

Love the button, but i can`t iD it
Gary

 

[Diggin Dude]

Wow really unique awesome button. Sorry can't help with ID

 

[GeoW]

I think it's sexual..

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[Carolina Tom]

Hey I know those girls...The Three Muses: Literature, Science & Art!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muses

Don't forget that you heard it from Carolina Tom first!

That's a nice find. You won't see many like that.

 

[G.A.P.metal]

I like science...good ID Tom !
Gary

 

[diggervet]

Hey I know those girls...The Three Muses: Literature, Science & Art!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muses

Don't forget that you heard it from Carolina Tom first!
That's a nice find. You won't see many like that.

Thank you for the response! I guess it makes as much sense as anything! Would you have any speculation as to the ownership or is there some association that would have use
d this symbol? seems like it must have been someone with some serious money to have buttons made like that! Thanks again!

 

[Carolina Tom]

Thank you for the response! I guess it makes as much sense as anything! Would you have any speculation as to the ownership or is there some association that would have use
d this symbol? seems like it must have been someone with some serious money to have buttons made like that! Thanks again!

It is a civilian button. made in the 1800s... probably earlier in the 1800s, because it is a flat button, as opposed to being a 2 piece button... but I am NOT a button expert. I would assume it was made for fashion, as opposed to a specific organization. If it was from an organization, it would have their name or something IDing them on the front. it might have a scholastic affiliation, but I am not sure of that either.

One thing I do know is, it's a very nice find and will look sweet in your collection!

 

[RustyGold]

Great answer Tom. I was going to say the three fates.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

I think RustyGold got it... the Three Fates, of ancient Greek mythology (and adopted by the Romans). Bare-breasted women clothed only in long flowing strips of cloth is the typical presentation of minor female goddesses in ancient Greek statuary and art.

About the scene on Diggervet's button:
The woman in the center is holding something up in the air, the woman on the left has an arm outstretched (as if holding something too small for us to see), and the woman at right has both arms outstretched as if she is cutting something. Compare their actions with the images below and in other representations of the Three Fates at the Wikipedia article.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moirai

The "gear-teeth pattern" border of the button also suggests ancient Greek motif.

 

[smokeythecat]

And with that identification correct, and the manufacture and history of 19th century architecture, I'd place it in the neo-classic period in American History, ca 1830-60 or so.

 

[sutphin]

NEEET FIND

 

[HutSiteDigger]

May sound odd.. But, since whoever was wearing this coat was probably educated since it was represents Literature, Science & Art, and the button could date to the 1850s the years that the High Bridge was built, perhaps it was off one of the civilian engineers or someone out there helping with building the bridge like architectural type. Seems like a odd civilian button. Just a guess, probably wrong but i've seen stranger things happen.