Button, Malta, 1775-1798
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1775-1798
Button in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number 1467A-1873), made in Malta, dated 1775-1798. The museum's brief description reads: Man's conical silver toggle button, Malta, 1775-1798..
Museum description: Conical silver toggle button, with oval link, and wire bar crossed over in the centre to form the loop. The button is made of sheet silver, decorated on the front with a rosette of applied wire, with a small filigree rosette at the top. There is a band of open twisted wire between the body of the button and its front. The museum records it as Silver sheet with applied and open filigree, measuring Length 60 mm; Width 44 mm; Diameter 20 mm; length 37 mm.
These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Men throughout Europe wore silver buttons with their traditional costume in the 19th century. Silver filigree buttons had been synonymous with rural dress since at least the 16th century. Most European cultures disapproved of male jewellery, but buttons allowed men to show off their wealth and status. They wore them in extravagant numbers, on sleeves and trousers as well as jackets and waistcoats. Buttons were rarely sewn directly on to the clothing. In the north of Europe people fastened them to their costume with a strip of leather, which ran through the button loops inside the garment. In the south, they used T-shaped toggles permanently attached to the button. Conical toggle buttons like these were worn by men, on jackets and waistcoats. They are now considered typical of Malta, but in the late 18th and early 19th century may have been worn in southern Italy as well. This button has Maltese marks from the end of the 18th century. It was bought for four shillings (for seven) at the International Exhibition, London, 1872.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- silver
- Dimensions
- Length 60 mm; Width 44 mm; Diameter 20 mm; length 37 mm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Silver sheet with applied and open filigree
- Place recorded
- Malta
Design
- Inscriptions recorded
- 'R' with crown above in shaped frame.; Partial mark of 'GO'.
Identification
- Museum object name
- Button
- Museum object number
- 1467A-1873
- Museum system number
- O296218
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.