Buttons

Men throughout Europe wore silver buttons with their traditional costume in the 19th century. Silver filigree buttons had been synonymous with rural dress since at least the 16th century. Most European cultures disapproved of male jewellery, but buttons allowed men to show off their wealth and status. They wore them in extravagant numbers, on sleeves and trousers as well as jackets and waistcoats.

Two buttons linked together were originally worn to close the front opening of a shift or shirt. By the 19th century they were also sometimes used as cuff-links. These have Neapolitan marks from the first half of the 19th century, and could have been worn anywhere in southern Italy or Sicily. They were bought for £1 16s. (for a group of 21) as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.