Buttons

Men throughout Europe wore silver buttons with their traditional costume in the 19th century. Although filigree buttons were the most typical, many countries used buttons made of sheet metal as well. 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.

Swedish men wore several different kinds of button. These octagonal buttons were worn on the jacket. They date from the early 19th century, and are much smaller than the rectangular and octagonal jacket buttons used from the late 19th century onwards.

One of these buttons has the maker's mark PH on the back, and the other has the date mark for 1833. They were probably made by Paul Georg Hallbeck, who worked in Malmö from 1814 to 1834.