Button Jewelry and Fasteners

Dress Ornaments

Dress ornaments can have both a decorative and functional purpose. They have been used for centuries and were important part of dress during the Roman and Celtic eras.

Below are some examples and price guides of dress ornaments including a pair of jade / hardstone inlaid gold filigree dress ornaments and an Iberian dress ornament.

Ornament ca. 800 B.C. Irish — Ornament ca. 800 B.C. Irish

Though objects such as these are conventionally called “dress fasteners” and “sleeve fasteners,” their exact purpose is unknown. It has been proposed that the smaller “sleeve fastener” worked much like a modern cufflink: the disks would have been drawn through slits in the garment. The “dress fastener” may have been secured by loops sewn onto the garment.

Reference: The Metropolitan Museum of Art

"Indiosito" (dress ornament) Bolivian early 20th century — “Indiosito” (dress ornament) Bolivian early 20th century

Costume decoration consisting of 12 minute figures representing men and women arranged on either side of central silver twisted wire.

Reference: Museum of Fine Arts Boston

Two rare jade or hardstone-inlaid gold filigree dress ornaments, Golden Horde, 13-14th century — Two rare jade or hardstone-inlaid gold filigree dress ornaments, Golden Horde, 13-14th century each of lobed cartouche form, comprising minute scrolling vines in finely executed gold filigree, set with five circular discs of jade or hardstone

Sold for 25,000 GBP at Sotheby’s in 2009

Dress Ornament 1850-1860 (made) — Dress Ornament 1850-1860 (made)

This modest hook was one of the first pieces of North African traditional jewellery to enter the V&A collections. It was described as a dress ornament which was said to have been worn as an emblem of virginity, and which pre-dated the French occupation of Algeria, when it was acquired in 1865. Hooks like this were usually worn at the time to fasten or secure other pieces of jewellery. The name aqafa simply means hook.

Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum

Byzantine Dress Ornament — This intricate gold ornament was designed to be sewn to a woman’s dress or headcover. The eagle with spread wings is a recurring Byzantine image, while the peacocks at the top represent eternal life.

Reference: The Walters Art Museum

A GOLD AND PASTE DRESS ORNAMENT, Iberian, 19th century — A GOLD AND PASTE DRESS ORNAMENT, IBERIAN, 19TH CENTURY. The bow-shaped openwork ornament of foliate design, suspending an oval-shaped drop of similar design, set throughout with table-cut colourless pastes in foiled and closed-back settings, mounted in gold, later brooch fitting to the reverse, length: 7.5cm, case by S.J.Phillips Ltd, 139 New Bond St, London, W1

Sold for £ 1,000 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2018