Silver buttons were often popular in Georgian and Victorian times. They were often made for gentlemen and supplied in dress sets. They would often be worn in field sports and some depict horses and other animals associated with the field. The Edwardian era saw a fashion called Art Nouveau and silver buttons of this era would often depict flourishing, naturalistic lines and ladies with flowing garments.
Below are some examples of silver buttons including a set of 12 Georgian silver field buttons and some late Victorian buttons by Levi & Salaman. These have pictorial designs of Ancient Greek figures which show the resurgence of classical art during this period.
A SET OF TWELVE GEORGIAN SILVER FIELD BUTTONS Each circular button engraved with a ship and headland beneath the inscription ‘Wormshead Hunt 1794 Try’, hallmarked London 1794, maker’s mark WS, gross weight approximately 44g, fitted case Jenner & Knewstub
Sold for GBP 1,500 at Christie’s in 2020
A set of five ancient Chinese silver coin buttons
Sold for US$1,000 at Asian Antique Group in 2022
Six 19th Century silver buttons engraved with three varying depictions of horse and rider. Maker I. S. Approx. 1 1/4″ diameter
Sold for £280 at Claydon Auctioneers Ltd in 2022
A SET OF LATE VICTORIAN SILVER BUTTONS, by Levi & Salaman, Birmingham 1899 (one 1900), cased, each chased with the head of an ancient Greek figure. Larger 2.5cm wide, smaller 1.5cm wide
Sold for £280 at Elstob & Elstob in 2022
Set of Twenty-Four George III Silver Buttons, London Circa 1785 with 12 coat buttons and 12 cuff buttons, engraved with fox hunting scenes: 6 coat buttons engraved with a huntsman blowing his horn, 6 engraved with a huntsman trotting behind three hounds; 6 of the sleeve buttons engraved with a galloping rider and hound, 6 with a rider jumping a fence, each marked with maker, lion passant, and incuse duty mark for 1784-5
Diameters 1 1/8 in., 3/4 in.
3 cm, 2 cm
Sold for 8,190 USD at Sotheby’s in 2022
