pewter button

[creade]

I dug this up today. Its got some type of design on it, looks almost military to me. Any help is appreciated.

View attachment 1182964



View attachment 1182964

 

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[OWK]

Is it possible that your button is upside down in the photo?

Rotated and enhanced, it appears to have a French fleur-de-lis on the bottom, and a bird (perhaps an eagle) on the top.

 

[creade]

Maybe, I tried to post another pic but it didn't go through. It does look like a eagle to me though

 

[G.A.P.metal]

Very interesting looking button !
Gary

 

[OWK]

Maybe, I tried to post another pic but it didn't go through. It does look like a eagle to me though

Yeah... it's pretty hard to make out. I'm just guessing.

Very nice button though.

Love a good mystery

 

[OWK]

If you have a flashlight, try lighting it from the side at almost 90 degrees, while taking the picture.

Lower the room lighting.

 

[creade]

Here's a better pic, I was able to clean it up some more. Now I DON'T see a bird

 

[OWK]

That's a much better picture.

The bottom still looks like a fleur-de-lis.

I dunno what it is on the top.

Hopefully someone will know.

 

[BARKER]

HI creade; Let me take a crack at it. I think it is a Fleur de Lis design. Thing is your button dates to circa 1680. I also believe it is or may be a Colonial Militia Button. That although Colonial Militias were not very well organized there was some Organization to them. Each area would form its own Militia and would thus have similar style apparel such as a crude form of uniform buttons. I think this is one of those types of button. If it is it is worth a good buck. Similar ones go for up to $1500. Research the towns history that you found it in as it most likely would have been worn by a local resident ok. Good Luck. PEACE:RONB

 

[Patriot Relics]

Cleaning pewters is a delicate business, but your's came out great! What did you do you remove the corrosion?

 

[creade]

Cleaning pewters is a delicate business, but your's came out great! What did you do you remove the corrosion?

Well this is going to sound strange but its worked before. I put a slight film of oil on the button then take a brush that has brass bristles and without much pressure, work on it. Then I wipe it off and do it again until I think that's as good as it gets. The oil seems to be a buffer so it doesn't scratch. The whole trick is take your time .

 

[BARKER]

HI creade; Your right that oil buffers but may I suggest using a FIRM toothbrush instead. I think the brass bristles are to harsh on them and could leave scratch marks. Also soaking it in water and brushing it every few days will indeed remove the dirt. Your right in that the secret is to TAKE YOUR TIME.!!! ok. PEACE:RONB

 

[creade]

I'm now looking at this a bit differently

 

[DCMatt]

I washed the pic a little in Photoshop.

Pretty sure the image on the right is a horse head. The one on the left almost looks like an elephant. Possiby an India connection? Though it is NOT the East India Company.

Maybe a livery button?

 

[mcl]

Large fleur de lis on bottom. A curved pattern above it separates the top from the bottom. Above that curve in the middle is the center part of a large fleur, with a "pineapple" pattern. On the left is an elephant standing upright. To the left of that elephant is a marking, which looks like a lowercase Latin script "i" or the vowel-marked long form of the Arabic letter Aleph. To the right of the pineapple patterned fleur portion, there is another elephant, facing the same direction as the one to the left, but its head is down, not upright. You can clearly see its four legs, like the one on the left. To the right of the second elephant is a clear image of a palm, with the patterned trunk curving up into a splay of palm branches. At the top, on either side of the pineapple patterned fleur portion are two separate three-leaf fleurs. You can see how the ends of the leaves curl at the tips, like typical fleur imagery.

 

[DCMatt]

I agree on the 2 elephants. Not convinced the left symbol is Aleph but it does look familiar. Still not seeing the palm tree. The "thick trunk" is what I see as a horse head.

DCMatt

 

[DCMatt]

If it is an elephant and palm tree, the one thing that keeps coming up in my research is Gold Coast - which was a long-time British colony until independence in the mid 20th C.

 

[mcl]

I agree on the 2 elephants. Not convinced the left symbol is Aleph but it does look familiar. Still not seeing the palm tree. The "thick trunk" is what I see as a horse head.

DCMatt

Agreed that it isn't Aleph -- I was just trying to describe what I saw. It would be pretty silly if someone stamped "Aaaaaah" on their coin

As far as your horse head goes, I'm trying to see it. Is this what you're seeing? A lowered head roughly facing right?

 

[DCMatt]

Agreed that it isn't Aleph -- I was just trying to describe what I saw. It would be pretty silly if someone stamped "Aaaaaah" on their coin

As far as your horse head goes, I'm trying to see it. Is this what you're seeing? A lowered head roughly facing right?

Yes. That's it. But the horse head makes less sense now that I see the other elephant.

Still can't grasp the "pineapple" design in the center. It seems to have something behind it. Could it be a net?

If we can figure it out, I KNOW this piece will have an amazing back-story.

 

[mcl]

Yes. That's it. But the horse head makes less sense now that I see the other elephant.

Still can't grasp the "pineapple" design in the center. It seems to have something behind it. Could it be a net?

If we can figure it out, I KNOW this piece will have an amazing back-story.

Taj Mahal:



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