Buttons with Egyptian motifs - 2nd half of the 19th century

Hello, I would like to ask whether here is somebody acquainted with metal cuffinks - sleeve buttons decorated with enamel and ancient Egyptian motifs - do you know something like this? Is there any literature to such items? Thank you very much!

 

Welcome Veronica. It would help if we saw photos of them, also of marks, if they have any. Here is info on how to upload pictures, please remember to click on 'full image' when you post:
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/posting-a-thread-and-uploading-pictures.15990/

 

Hello, thank you very much! Unfortunately, I cannot publish the image. The item, which I am trying to identify is a recent archaeological find and it has not yet been officially published. It is a circular buttom (diam. ca. 2 cm) made most probably of bronze/tin or other cupper alloy and decorated with enamel. The image depicts a seated figure in a nemes-headdress, holding a waz-scepter on the typical egyptian throne and is approached by a worshipper, there are also some un-readable hieroglyphic signs. I can sand the image - but only attached in a message - not publicaly. It was found in a tomb of a rich businessman in a Slovak (then Hungarian) village in his coffin. It is similar to the attached cufflink - which I found here in one of the fora (but my object is in much worse condition and quality). Do you think, you could recognize something like this?
?

 

The set in the photo is most likely 1920s-30s, German made. It looks silver, but similar ones were made in base metal.
Items like this were made after the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922.

So you have one round button, not the cufflinks? That would have been made in the same period.

 

This was just a parallel - the only one I have found so far - and it is clearly later.
Yes - i have a round button - but mine is certainly much older - the owner in whose tomb it was found died in 1876 - so it is certainly older - at least from the 1860s-1870s. Is there a possibility to send you a private message - so I can send you the image?

 

There is a part of the forum which is for members only, if you prefer? It is this one:
https://www.antiquers.com/forums/general-discussion.6/

Alternatively you could start a photo album in 'gallery', you can find that at the top of the page. Set your album on private, and share it only with the person you want. When you have done that you can start a private conversation with me by clicking on my avatar picture and then on 'start a conversation'.

 

Thank you, I will try to make the photo album!

 

@Veronika Dubcova , I just saw the button, and wrote a message in your album.

 

This is some general information on buttons from The Big Book of Buttons by Hughes & Lester. The photos don't show anything quite like you describe and there is no information in the descriptions beyond the subjects and value as of the printing of the book.

 

I just saw the button, it is different from the cufflink backs, but it is enamelled, nothing is applied. It could have been gilded once, but it has suffered too much to see any traces of gilding. Interesting though.

 

Thank you for the tip!

[/QUOTE]

 

These are the two pages of photos associated with this section of the book. I can post the descriptions if wanted but they don't have dates or makers info. I'm not good at using this book as I don't reference it often so it is possible there are other buttons that might be similar. If no one finds anything I'll go back and leaf through it.

 

Thanks, s_i_s. Veronika's button has no application or embossing in any way. In that sense it is indeed closer to the cufflink backs. But different.
Gorgeous buttons on those pages though.

 

Thank you very much for posting the photos - since I dont have an immediate access to the book you recommended, but I will look on it as soon as possible! As was written above, it is a different piece - i will include you into the album, so you can see it too!

 

Cufflinks/cuff butons can (very) roughly be dated.
If it is just a single button, it might have been used for a different purpose. Was it still attached to shirt fabric/cloth?

Date wise I would suggest 1860-1870, the time when the Suez Canal was built.

 

Hello & Welcome, Veronika. When I read about an archaeological find from a tomb, my brain is not expecting a button from the grave of a successful 19th century Hungarian businessman. So, I'm curious, what is this project that is disinterring graves from that era? Since there is the expectation that finds will be published, the activities are obviously legal & not some clandestine antique button looting operation.

I am sure Any Jewelry has given you good guidance after seeing the button.

 

Hello, yes, you are right, it is a legal and very professional project originating from the need of re-building/reconstructing the church with the crypt, where the tomb of this man was situated, everything was investigated in detail and it will be put in order after the work is done. I am an archaeologist and egyptologist and I was asked to estimate the object which bears an Egyptian motif. However, this is clearly not an indigenous ancient Egyptian object, but most likely a 19th century product (maybe slightly earlier?). I am trying to find out more about the object as well as about the mans life - since it is really highly unusual that it was in his coffin - and only this - no second button, no further jewelry! It seems to have some importance for him - maybe some amulet, souvenir - the connection with some travel to Egypt - the building of Suez Canal is a good point, maybe he was a freemason (they were quite active in this part of Austria-Hungary - Slovakia). I am not familiar with this kind of items, thats why I am searching some help - to make further research.

 

I wonder if someone placed it in there as a memento.

 

Now I am completely intrigued. If you will permit, I would also be interested in seeing this object. I collect a subset of jewellery from this period (cameos), have some knowledge of vintage Egyptian jewellery & a slight knowledge of Greek & Roman antiquities. Maybe something in my eclectic store of information will be helpful.

 

Love them, beautiful champlevé enameling, also nice basse taille work on the round cuff buttons.