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Coat buttons

Coat buttons
Conch shell, gold, silver, copper alloy
c. 1789-1797
Coat buttons
Coat buttons
Conch shell, gold, silver, copper alloy
c. 1789-1797
Coat buttons Conch shell, gold, silver, copper alloy c. 1789-1797
Status
Not on view
Label Text

In the 1790s, a taste for large, luminescent disks made of exotic materials such as shell or stone superseded the earlier fashion for modest-sized buttons of metal or fabric. Such buttons were employed on fashionable outerwear for women, including great coats and riding habits, as well as men's coats. This pair of conch shell buttons, each with a silver-plated boss and a gilt ten-pointed star at its center, was among a larger set owned by George or Martha Washington. The expensive fasteners were later given to friends and family as relics of the venerable couple.

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Datec. 1789-1797
Geography Possibly made - United StatesPossibly made - United States
DimensionsOverall: 5/8 in. x 1 5/16 in. x 1 5/16 in. (1.6 cm x 3.33 cm x 3.33 cm)
Credit LineGift of Mrs. James H. Scott Jr., 1986
Object numberW-3021/A
DescriptionPink conch shell concave button with gilt and metal ten-pointed star and silver-plated copper alloy boss in center; smooth pink and white surface of the shell on obverse; gilding is worn off some surfaces of star; points of star are chipped and tarnished; dull white surface of the shell on reverse; loop shank of copper alloy metal.


Published References"Washington Relics Now in Museum: 195 Interesting Objects Are Taken from Historical Home at Mount Vernon." [Wilmington, Delaware] Morning News, 1916.

American Art Galleries Catalogue, 2/22/1922.
Mount Vernon's object research is ongoing and information about this object is subject to change. For information on image use and reproductions, click here.
Coat buttons
Conch shell, gold, silver, copper alloy
c. 1789-1797
c. 1789-1797
Coat button
Conch shell, glod, silver, copper alloy
c. 1789-1797
c. 1789-1797
Coat button
c. 1789-1797
Conch shell, gold, silver, copper alloy
c. 1789-1797
Coat button
c. 1789-1797
Conch shell, gold, silver, copper alloy
c. 1789-1797
Coat button
Conch shell, silver, copper alloy
c. 1789-1797
c. 1789-1797
Coat buttons
Conch shell, silver, copper alloy
c. 1789-1797
c. 1789-1797
Coat buttons
Conch shell, silver, copper alloy
c. 1789-1797
c. 1789-1797
Coat buttons,
c. 1789-1797,
Conch shell, metal
c. 1789-1797
Coat buttons,
c. 1789-1797,
Conch shell, metal
c. 1789-1797
Coat buttons,
c. 1789-1797,
Conch shell, metal
c. 1789-1797
Coat buttons,
c. 1789-1797,
Conch shell, metal
c. 1789-1797
Coat buttons,
c. 1789-1797,
Conch shell, metal
c. 1789-1797
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