BUTTON

Post medieval gilded cast copper alloy button, 17th century. Circular domed button, convex on the obverse, concave on the reverse, with an integrally cast rectangular loop with circular perforation, which retains the remains of the iron attachment pin. The obverse has incised and punched decoration of a facing figure, with a three pointed crown with a band of seven punched annulets, bobbed haristyle with fine vertical incised lines, face made of punched annulets for eyes, punched curves for nose and straight line for mouth, wings coming from behind the head/shoulders (again decorated with fine incised lines), and a band coming down at a diagonal from each shoulder and terminating on the chest at an octofoil of punched annulets, representing either arms or a sash. Around the figure are four ring and dot motifs (made of punched curves and annulets), on on either side of the arms/sash, and one on either side of the wings - these last two ring and dots each have two punched curves to either side. This is all surrounded by a beaded border which is broken by the tips of the wings and the crown. Diameter 27.29mm, thickness inluding loop 8.93mm, thickness not including loop c.5mm, weight 8.47g.

See Brian Read 2005 ('Metal Buttons', Portcullis) p.45, no.160 for a similar button showing a crowned facing king with small sexfoils and curlicues around and a border of annulets, which he dates to the mid 17th century. See also Gordon Bailey 2004 ('Buttons and Fasteners', Greenlight) p.38, no.s 8.32-8.34 for similar buttons with surviving iron fixing pins.