POST MEDIEVAL BUTTON

1700

An unusually large copper-alloy hollow button of 18th century date. The button is formed of three parts and resembles a miniature crotal bell with the exception that there is an absence of sound holes joined by a slit in the lower half. The button is sub-spherical in shape. The upper and lower halves of the button are of sheet metal, soldered together and undecorated. The lower half has a central attachment loop and a single perforation (blow hole) on one side of the loop. The perforation is circular and has a diameter of 3.9mm. The front of the button is damaged and squashed. Where the two pieces of sheet join, a thin line of silver coloured solder can be seen. Similar examples of buttons can be seen in Bailey, G. 2004, p.78.