Button

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.

This tiny button formed part of a set of waistcoat buttons. Its front is set with a green glass stone, surrounded by small filigree coil rings, which is typical of the buttons worn in Småland and Blekinge. Although these buttons rarely carry any marks other than the maker's mark, they were almost all made in the town of Karlskrona, so can be easily identified.

This button has the maker’s mark PAT on the back. Peter Andreas Thomasson was a Karlskrona silversmith working from 1832-1864.