Set of buttons and studs with monuments of Rome
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1850
This object is a button belonging to a twelve-piece set of buttons and studs decorated with views of Roman monuments. Each circular piece features an intricate micromosaic depicting a classical architectural site or monument of Rome, framed by a border of black glass. The items are mounted in settings made of gold and silver.
The set was produced in Rome, Italy, around 1850 by an unknown maker. The individual item measures 1.5 cm in diameter and has a depth of 0.4 cm. It is housed in a fitted presentation case with a blue exterior and a pale interior lining marked with the retailer name S. J. Shrubsole.
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
In Britain, decorative buttons and studs of this type were typically reserved for men's evening attire. A set consisting of ten buttons and two studs served to adorn a gentleman's waistcoat and dress shirt. Double-breasted styles accommodated up to ten buttons, while the two shirt studs remained visible just above the waistcoat front. Glass micromosaic techniques originated during the 18th century at the Vatican Mosaic Workshop in Rome. The set was previously held by the dealer S. J. Shrubsole in New York before entering the collection of Sir Arthur and Rosalinde Gilbert, who donated their decorative arts collection to Britain in 1996.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Micromosaic, black glass, gold and silver
- Dimensions
- Diameter: 1.5 cm; Depth: 0.4 cm
Technical characteristics
- Maker recorded
- Unknown
- Place recorded
- Rome
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Button
- Museum object number
- LOAN:GILBERT.963:5-2008
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.