Medieval buttons date between the 5th and 15th centuries. Many of them are from finds so it is rare to find mint examples. Their designs vary from simple to elaborate depending on the wealth of the person who would have worn them.
Below are some examples and price guides of Medieval buttons including a gold, cloisonne button filled with garnets and a jet carved button found in Iran.
Jet carved button 8th–10th century Iran
The dot-in-circle motif recalls designs presumed to be of magical significance, most likely an abstract eye to ward off the evil-eye, which serves an apotropaic function. Easily reproduced with a tool and visible in many cultures and times, this symbol may have lost its meaning, and become simply a decorative pattern, or may have one that we have not yet discovered.
Reference: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
An Anglo-Saxon or Frankish gold and garnet button Circa 6th Century A.D. With gold cloisonné cellwork filled with four semi-circular garnets with curved outer-edges and a central triangular garnet with concave edges, the gold lower rim decorated with a band of beaded gold granules, the sheet gold base with two ridged sheet gold attachment loops, 17mm. diam.
Sold for £ 1,680 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2005
Greek Button circa 15th century; silver; hoop; hemispherical body; with pierced ornament in circles; with pendant ball.
© The Trustees of the British Museum
