Button, pair, silver filigree, Cordoba, Spain, 1865-1870

Silver buttons were an essential part of traditional dress in Europe in the 19th century. They were often worn in extravagant quantities, at the collar and cuff, as well as to fasten shirts, jackets, waistcoats, coats and cloaks. This pair of buttons was probably worn to hold the neck of the shirt closed.

The use of buttons as collar links precedes their use in fastening clothes in most European countries, and the buttons used in this way come in many patterns. These buttons, with a flat sheet silver back, scalloped round the edge, and an open filigree front, are now considered typical of Salamanca, but they were made and worn throughout Spain in the 19th century. Unlike in many other countries, both men and women wore silver buttons in Spain. These were described as from Cordoba, when they were bought for the museum by Señor Riaño for two shillings and six pence (the pair) in 1871. Pair of hollow silver buttons, joined by an oval link. Each button has an open filigree face and a sheet silver back with scalloped edge.