Weird Button Thingy

[BuckleBoy]

Hello All,

I need a bit of help with this one. Any ideas? The button-like piece is decorated around the edge.










Best Wishes,



Buckles

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

DR.ÖTEK Metal Detector, Waterproof Gold Detector, Pinpoint & Terrain Modes, Professional Metal Detector - Grab it through Amazon!

[vayank54]

It looks like a colonail period button. It probably had shell of mother of pearl in the center. I had one about lke that that did. why the ringd weere attached I have no idea.

 

[BuckleBoy]

It looks like a colonail period button. It probably had shell of mother of pearl in the center. I had one about lke that that did. why the ringd weere attached I have no idea.

I agree that the style of the button itself looks early. I have seen some late 1800s buttons with rings attached before, but I am not sure what the function of the rings were. So you do think it's a button with a ring attached?

If there had been a backmark on it, I wouldn't have posted it here--since it would've been obvious what it was. But in light of the attached ring and lack of backmark I thought I'd better post it.


-Buckles

 

[johnnyi]

It looks like a colonail period button. It probably had shell of mother of pearl in the center. I had one about lke that that did. why the ringd weere attached I have no idea.

I agree that the style of the button itself looks early. I have seen some late 1800s buttons with rings attached before, but I am not sure what the function of the rings were. So you do think it's a button with a ring attached?

If there had been a backmark on it, I wouldn't have posted it here--since it would've been obvious what it was. But in light of the attached ring and lack of backmark I thought I'd better post it.


-Buckles

Have you considered possibly to secure a watchchain? maybe the small ring is wrong for that possibility?

 

[vayank54]

I've dug civil war period buttons with the split ring but don't know how early they started using them. I think the bigger ring was to hold the button on the uniform instead of sewing it on. I was kind of thinking along the same about it being for a watch chain but don't know. I'm pretty sure it's a colonial button with a ring attached.

 

[vayank54]

Did you dig it at an earlier orlater period site?

 

[johnnyi]

I've dug civil war period buttons with the split ring but don't know how early they started using them. I think the bigger ring was to hold the button on the uniform instead of sewing it on. I was kind of thinking along the same about it being for a watch chain but don't know. I'm pretty sure it's a colonial button with a ring attached.

I think so too. Here is a watch chain with two split rings which I can confirm is no later than federal period and possibly earlier. (I dug it in the strata under porch of the old Logan Inn when the original porch and terrace were removed several years ago).

 

[BuckleBoy]

http://www.antiquewear.com/invkyr.htm

Nova Treasure

Nova those are modern keychains fashioned from old buttons.


I think that this split ring is pretty flimsy. It would hold a button on a uniform, but I doubt that it's the type of thing one would want an expensive, heavy watch dangling from. The age of the site was 1700s all the way through the late 1800s. Hold on-- I may have seen something similar in the 1900 Montgomery Ward catalog...let me check.


-Buckles

 

[nova treasure]

http://www.antiquewear.com/invkyr.htm

Nova Treasure

Nova those are modern keychains fashioned from old buttons.


Yes i know, I thought it was interesting in resemblance. sorry for any mislead.

Nova Treasure

 

[johnnyi]

http://www.antiquewear.com/invkyr.htm

Nova Treasure

Nova those are modern keychains fashioned from old buttons.


I think that this split ring is pretty flimsy. It would hold a button on a uniform, but I doubt that it's the type of thing one would want an expensive, heavy watch dangling from. The age of the site was 1700s all the way through the late 1800s. Hold on-- I may have seen something similar in the 1900 Montgomery Ward catalog...let me check.


-Buckles

I don't know Will, the ring is only holding a fairly light chain, not the watch. The watch itself goes in the pocket. The split rings of mine are pretty flimsy too, but they are on both ends of a watch chain.

 

[BuckleBoy]

I don't know Will, the ring is only holding a fairly light chain, not the watch. The watch itself goes in the pocket. The split rings of mine are pretty flimsy too, but they are on both ends of a watch chain.

That could be what it is, then. The link that is left on mine is strikingly similar to the example you posted. I'm going through the catalog now... as I recall, there was a GAR button in here somewhere that had a ring on the back of it...

 

[nova treasure]

Here you go Will, this might be interesting to ya.

http://www.thetreasuredepot.com/issue4/civilwar.htm

Nova Treasure

 

[johnnyi]

Here you go Will, this might be interesting to ya.

http://www.thetreasuredepot.com/issue4/civilwar.htm

Nova Treasure

That's an interesting article Nova. I wonder though how much is speculation based on an instance or two of more than one button being found on a ring ? Buttons on a split ring sounds good, but if you look at a split ring (have one in front of me) the job of getting any more than two or three buttons on a single ring is a project, and almost an impossibility for more than that, as it allows no expansion of the ring to add or remove (shanks cannot be close to each other due to the button's body itself).

 

[nova treasure]

Here you go Will, this might be interesting to ya.

http://www.thetreasuredepot.com/issue4/civilwar.htm

Nova Treasure

That's an interesting article Nova. I wonder though how much is speculation based on an instance or two of more than one button being found on a ring ? Buttons on a split ring sounds good, but if you look at a split ring (have one in front of me) the job of getting any more than two or three buttons on a single ring is a project, and almost an impossibility for more than that, as it allows no expansion of the ring to add or remove (shanks cannot be close to each other due to the button's body itself).

Yes I agree, i could possibly understand if they kept several buttons together by slipping one ring to another with each button having it's own individual ring.

Nova Treasure

 

[Breezie]

I'm with Johnny on how much is speculation on the rings. Not to sound stereotypical, but lacing buttons on a ring sounds like something a woman would do. If a man had extra buttons, he would go the easy route and stick them in his pocket. Personally I think those ringed buttons were used on items like a cape or a cloak, which allowed more movement about the neck area and easy access to clip/fasten, plus it added stability to hold on a cape that would be flapping in the breeze while riding a horse. This ringed button sorta looks like the 'extend-a-buttons' of today that men use when their collar is too tight when wearing a neck tie. It's the same principle to make the neck hole larger.Breezie

 

[nova treasure]

I also believe these were used to secure chain to button. I know I have seen many times of researching where a chain will run into the back of a button for a secure hold on different Officer uniforms to just simply secure chain for a pocket watch. I even think that the early police fastened there whistles to a chain and connected to there buttons.

NT

 

[BuckleBoy]

I'm with Johnny on how much is speculation on the rings. Not to sound stereotypical, but lacing buttons on a ring sounds like something a woman would do. If a man had extra buttons, he would go the easy route and stick them in his pocket. Personally I think those ringed buttons were used on items like a cape or a cloak, which allowed more movement about the neck area and easy access to clip/fasten, plus it added stability to hold on a cape that would be flapping in the breeze while riding a horse. This ringed button sorta looks like the 'extend-a-buttons' of today that men use when their collar is too tight when wearing a neck tie. It's the same principle to make the neck hole larger.Breezie

I agree with both of you. We know that buttons were usually kept on a piece of string. They have been found in period collections that way, and they have even been dug with the hemp twine still attached.

 

[Breezie]

Here's a pic from flea-bay showing a repro cape/cloak chain. I think your ringed button probably served the same purpose. Nice find! Breezie