Buttons Forever

Carter, Gough & Co

B F Admin — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 09:42:58 +0000

Carter, Gough & Co was an American company founded in 1841 under the name of Pennington, Carter & Doremus in Newark, New Jersey. Since then it had several name changes including Carter, Howe & Co. The company ceased trading in 1922. Primarily a jewelry company, they also made cufflinks and dress sets.

Below are some examples and price guides of cufflinks made by Carter, Gough & Co and an example of their maker’s mark.

Carter, Gough & Co Maker’s mark. C inside of an arrow.

A PAIR OF ART NOUVEAU 14K GOLD CUFFLINKS
Designed as bacchante and satyr masks, weight 9.4 dwt, maker’s mark for Carter, Gough & Company, length 3/4 in.

Sold for US$1,402.50 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2023

Edwardian 14K Gold & Platinum Engine-Turned Double-Sided Cufflinks

Sold for US$550 at Intervendue in 2023

Carter, Gough & Co. Gold, Platinum, Carved Gray Mother-of-Pearl and Pearl Dress Set and Two Costume Studs
14 kt., including a pair of cuflinks, four buttons and three studs, small pearls ap. 3.6 mm., carved gray mother-of-pearl discs, all with maker’s marks, and two costume and imitation pearl studs, gold ap. 8.6 dwts. With fitted box signed Tiffany & Co.

Sold for $693 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2022

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White Gold Buttons

B F Admin — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:08:17 +0000

White Gold Buttons. White gold is an alloy of gold and at least one white metal (usually nickel, silver, or palladium). Like yellow gold, the purity of white gold is given in karats. The term white gold is used very loosely in the industry to describe karat gold alloys with a whitish hue. Reference: Wikipedia

Below are some examples and price guides of white gold buttons including a set of onyx and diamond buttons and some white tuxedo buttons.

A SET OF WHITE GOLD, ONYX AND DIAMONDS BUTTONS AND STUDS
Diamonds weighing approximately 1.15 carats, estimated gross weight 9.0 grams, mounted in 14k white gold, no. 56, with fitted box, measure 1/2 in. and 3/8 in.

Sold for US$306 inc. premium at Bonhams in 2023

Handmade 18K White Gold 8.50 carat Double Sided Button Diamond Stud Cuff Links. Diamonds: G-H color VS-SI clarity.Top button diameter: 14mm Bottom button diameter: 10mm

Sold for US$5,100 at Bidhaus in 2023

WHITE GOLD TUXEDO BUTTON SET

Consisting of six polished and brushed buttons, with two buttons measuring approximately 19.00 mm wide and four buttons measuring approximately 13.00 mm wide.
Stamp: 14K.
18.65 dwt.

Sold for US$700 at Hindman in 2021

Set of four button studs, designed by Buccellati in 18k white gold. Measure 11mm in diameter , weigh 12.1 grams. Marked: Buccellati, 18k, Italy

Sold for US$1,200 at Atop Auctions, LLC in 2020

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Sapphire Buttons

B F Admin — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 09:21:42 +0000

Sapphire Buttons. Sapphires come in a variety of colors but the most common one is blue. The dark blue sapphires look particularly good with light colored metals such as silver or white gold.

Below are some examples and price guides of antique and vintage sapphire buttons including a yellow gold “knot” dress set and a division one sapphire button set.

A Fine yellow gold and sapphire “Knot” Dress-set
Comprising of a pair of cufflinks designed as knots to each end and set with sapphires, five similarly designed yellow gold and sapphire set buttons

Sold for HK$8,287.50 inc. premium at Bonhams in 2021

White Gold, Carved Rock Crystal and Sapphire Dress Set and Four Gold, Carved Rock Crystal and Cabochon Sapphire Buttons and Stud
14 kt., pair of cuflinks and three studs, 5 oval sapphires ap. 2.75 cts., four buttons and single stud, 5 round cabochon sapphires, buttons and stud with maker’s mark, ap. 15.6 dwts. gross. With box signed Raymond Yard.

Sold for $1,386 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2022

A DIVISON ONE GEMSTONE IN GOLD BUTTON
Small Medium size pierced 18kt Gold set with Sapphires. The deep blue cabochon Sapphires (8 in all) are set into a delicately hand crafted pierced setting of Gold and finely executed.

Sold for US$190 at Lion and Unicorn in 2023

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Ruby Buttons

B F Admin — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 13:29:57 +0000

Ruby Buttons. Rubies are one of the most desirable gemstones and when paired with gold make exquisite buttons and cufflinks. Ruby buttons are quite rare and it they can be confused with red garnets and spinels as well as red ruby glass. One difference is that rubies tend to have different colors when viewed at different angles whereas spinels are singularly refractive.

Some high quality buttons have been made in the form of animal heads and often their eyes are inset with rubies.

Below are some examples and price guides of antique and vintage ruby buttons including some gold owl buttons with ruby eyes and a dress set.

Attributed to Paul Robin: A set of four owl buttons, circa 1880 Each modelled as an owl’s head with finely engraved detail and circular-cut ruby eyes, French marks

Sold for £3,400 at Lyon & Turnbull in 2022

A PLATINUM, GOLD, RUBY AND DIAMOND DRESS SET
Comprising a pair of cufflinks, four shirt studs/buttons, and two collar studs, set with round diamonds weighing approximately 2.00 carats and bezel-set rubies weighing approximately 3.50 carats, with original, fitted Collingwood Ltd. box

Sold for US$3,500 at Bonham’s in 2022

Antonini Gioielli 18K Gold Ruby Cufflink Set

2 Cufflinks; 3 buttons Stamped 750 Italy *1272MI Ruby and Onyx

Sold for US$900 at Hunt and Peck Estate Services, Inc. in 2021

Set of seven Fox Hunting Buttons in 14K yellow gold, for fox hunting jacket, each piece has full fox head and ruby eyes, 3/4″ diameter. 23.3 dwt.

Sold for US$1,300 at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in 2019

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Elephant Buttons

B F Admin — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 09:50:10 +0000

Elephant buttons are very collectible and can be picked up for reasonable prices although some exceptionally rare examples can reach extremely high prices. The elephant is also they symbol for the American Republican Party and many buttons have been produced for the party.

Below are some examples and price guides of elephant buttons including a rare Alf Landon cartoon elephant button and a group of vintage Dwight Eisenhower buttons with the word “Ike” on the body.

A Card of Div. 1 & 3 Assorted Material Elephant Buttons

22 S/M/L 19th/20th century elephants in assorted materials.
Elephants are always a favorite among collectors. This card has a nice clear glass realistic lamp work example, several metal examples, ceramics and more.

Sold for US$140 at Lion and Unicorn in 2022

Alf Landon: Highly Desirable Cartoon Button. 1 1/4″ button depicting the G.O.P. elephant crushing the Democratic donkey. Titled: “Landon On the New Deal”. Landon and his fellow Republicans were highly critical of the New Deal policies of FDR including Social Security which achieved widespread acceptance by the American public. This pin was designed and paid for by Frederick A. Dorsey and ranks as one of the top, if not the top, Landon button. In excellent condition.

Sold for US$2,600 at Heritage Auctions in 2022

Group of Vintage Dwight D. Eisenhower Campaign Buttons. Sizes 2 1/4″ to the many 3/4″ Gold Elephants.

Sold for US$225 at Fine Estate, Inc. in 2021

31 Edward Gorey Illustrated Buttons, includes 23 Stuffed Elephants pins, and 8 Useful Urns pins, 7 yellow and 1 white.

Sold for US$250 at Ashcroft and Moore LLC in 2021

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Silver Buttons

B F Admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 12:15:53 +0000

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

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Shirt Studs

B F Admin — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 07:33:43 +0000

A shirt stud is a decorative fastener that fits onto a buttonhole on the front of a pleated shirt, or onto the starched bib of a stiff-front shirt. Such shirts have special buttonholes solely for shirt studs. They were first used in the Western world in the mid-19th century, when some shirt fronts were too stiff to close with buttons. So remains the case for the heavily starched, modern full dress shirts worn with white tie.Reference: Wikipedia

Below are some examples and price guides of antique and vintage shirt studs including some frog studs by David Webb and some Victorian portrait studs.

Sold for US$4,462.50 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2022

DAVID WEBB ENAMEL AND GOLD FROG SHIRT STUDS

Comprising three enamel and gold frog shirt studs

Metal: 18k yellow gold

Sold for USD 1,500 at Christie’s in 2020

Gold, Mother-of-Pearl, Black Enamel and Seed Pearl Dress Set
14 kt., including one pair of cufflinks, four buttons and two shirt studs, minor enamel loss, ap. 10.5 dwts. gross. With fitted box signed Tiffany & Co.

SSold for $567 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2022

Pair of Victorian Enamel Portrait Miniature Shirt Studs

Each painted on porcelain, featuring a portrait miniature of a bearded gentleman, set in a tested to 14k yellow gold shirt stud mounting measuring approximately 28.1 mm (1.10 in). Gross weight: 13.1 grams.

Sold for US$150 at Fine Estate, Inc in 2022

Set of Four Sapphire and Diamond Shirt Studs. Each stud centering a bulge-sided triangle-shaped sapphire, framed by round diamonds.

Sold for 1,386 USD at Sotheby’s in 2022

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Medieval Buttons – 5th to 15th Centuries

B F Admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 08:11:33 +0000

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.

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Art Deco Buttons

B F Admin — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 07:20:28 +0000

Art Deco buttons often displayed the same characteristics as other Art Deco items, showing geometric patterns and forms. There were also newer materials used such as Bakelite.

Below are some examples and price guides of Art Deco buttons including a mother of pearl dress set and some Bakelite pictorial buttons in the form of beetles.

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Dress Ornaments

B F Admin — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 07:38:20 +0000

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.

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