Auction closes to new bids (extended bidding after 9 pm CT on high activity lots):
#1 18th-C Shell with Glass Star
Faceted cobalt glass triangles and a multitude of pastes form a dazzling array around the center engraved pearl circle mounted with the jeweled pin shank on this 18th century shell. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#2 Velvet Back Steel Pinwheel
An eight-spoked pinwheel formed from faceted steels mounted against the black velvet background. Silver tinted reverse with wire shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#3 Shell with Moon Painting
A collaboration between artists Sara Atlee and Nancy DuBois resulted in this charming moon-face over the city painting mounted in the engraved shell with mirror-paste embellished border. See the companion piece in Lot #29. Only 10 of these sets were created. Signed, numbered, and dated on the reverse “Atlee 8/10 NB 1995.” Applied metal plate cut-out shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#4 Astronomer Teddy Jasperware
Teddy peers through his telescope at the man-in-the-moon on this ceramic jasperware by Shirley Shaw. Reverse signed “Shirley ‘93.” Self-shank. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#5 Transitional Pierced Copper
Elaborate tooled and stamped pierced copper star design from the late 18th or early 19th century. Elongated wire loop shank. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#6 Atlee Star
A painted star shape on laminated polymer by artist Sara Atlee. Reverse is signed, numbered, and dated “Atlee, 2/10, ‘96.” Applied metal plate cut-out shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#7 DuBois Pinna Shell with Cats
A gold-filled engraved scene of two cats beneath a starry sky with crescent moon. Mirror-pastes embellish several of the stars. By artist Nancy DuBois. Titled, signed, numbered, and dated on the reverse “Midnight Meeting, NB, 17/20, 1996, 090221.” Applied plate and loop shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#8 18th-C Star with Foil Background
This 18th century features a bursting star design reverse painted on glass which has been mounted over cobalt blue foil to give it a deep night sky effect. Copper rim. Tinned sheet-iron reverse with loop shank. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#9 Big Tole Moon
Mint condition on this wonderful crescent moon with stars and a comet engraved in the original tole finish. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#10 Enamel Owl
Unusual Japanese enameled button on silver of an owl perched on an irregular branch with autumn leaves. Highly detailed eyes. Backmarked with a turtle within a triangle. The same backmark appears on many Japanese repoussé enamel floral buttons. Silver reverse with elongated wire shank. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#11 Medium Kaleidoscope
Medium Div. I glass kaleidoscope with a frosted convex top with molded reverse facets including a center 8-point star. Multicolor foil background. Brass plate reverse with loop shank. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#12 Glass-Eyed Owl
Large owl face with faceted green paste eyes and a pierced border design. Reverse support bar with shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#13 18th-C Shell with Paste and Mirrors
Lovely 18th century shell with engraved center, outer scalloped beaded border encircling a mirror-paste border, and a jeweled pin-shank. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#14 Pierrot
An extra-large French white button depicting Pierrot serenading the crescent moon. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#15 Four Small Lacy Glass
Four small Div. I lacy glass, all with original back paint in good condition. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#16 18th-C Duo
A passementerie design with coiled wire, sequins, and pastes and a shiny silvered alloy surface (reacts to a magnet) with stamped copper border rim. The silvered surface is over bone with catgut shank. The passementerie has a coarse woven thread reverse. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#17 Red Glass with Paste Border
Frosted red glass glows over a reflective base and an openwork border of faceted brilliants encircles the prong-mounted glass. Brass reverse with elongated loop shank. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#18 Large Pierced Black Glass
A large Div. I one-piece nine-spoke radial design in black glass with incised detail. Brass plate and loop shank. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#19 Glass in Metal Quartet
Four glass in metal designs include a small square green glass with center paste, an oval black glass with fancy border, a faux embroidered black glass design with paste border, and a multi-piece black glass design with inner paste border. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#20 Arts & Crafts Style Glass
Pewter metal hand-worked and applied over the face and sides of an antique glass button. Embellished with a center amethyst glass cabochon. An unusual piece. Copper tint finish on the reverse. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#21 Rising Sun Livery
Unusual livery crest of setting sun with radiating rays, silver plated over copper. Backmarked BIDEN CHEAPSIDE LONDON. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#22 18th-C Two-Color Copper
Striking 18th century copper with lots of hand worked detail and an inner silvered border. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#23 18th-C Enamel on Copper
This 18th century copper features an applied center white enamel disk with gold bordered round and oval blue pierreries, a red foil pierrerie center and green foil leafy accents. Est. selling price is $400-600.
#24 Pierced Green Jewel
Large faux filigree pierced brass design embellished with amber brilliants and a center green glass oval cabochon. Two wee chips in the green glass. Elongated shank. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#25 Six Pristine Medium Lacy Glass
Six medium and mint condition lacy glass in clear glass with reverse colors of blue, amber, green, yellow, orange, and purple. Pictorial designs include a horseshoe (green), bellflower (blue), shamrock (yellow). Est. selling price is $200-400.
#26 Painted Cobalt Glass Quartet
Four cobalt artisan painted buttons designed by the late Geri Peck of California, painted by a family of skilled artisans in the Czech Republic, and produced in limited quantities. Here is a boy ice skating, a girl with umbrella and galoshes, a boy sledding, and a boy with his snowman. Reverse shows backmark H gp 07 with plate and loop shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#27 Daisy Lacy Glass
Daisy pattern lacy glass has a beautiful deep glow enhanced by gold back paint. Mint condition. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#28 Sun Worshiper
Large hand painted scene from Russia featuring a woman with flowing scarf raising her hands to the sun. A red sailboat maneuvers fanciful waves in the background. Reverse is signed and has a wire U shank. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#29 Shell with Painted Smiling Sun
Another Atlee and DuBois artistic collaboration and a companion piece to Lot #3. A painted smiling sun face against a starry sky is mounted in the engraved shell embellished with mirror pastes. This sun and moon set were a limited edition of only 10 in number. Reverse is signed, numbered, and dated “Atlee 2/10 NB, 1995”. Applied metal plate cut-out shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#30 Country Manse with Tower
A brass scene depicting a mill and buildings, including a tower, of a style one associates with Grimm’s fairy tales. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#31 Faux Woodgrained Glass
A large and lovely faux woodgrained finish Div. I black glass design with a floral bloom and leaf forming a partial border. Brass plate and loop shank. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#32 Rarig Sulfide Grapes PW
Colorful millefiori canes surround the center sulfide bunch of grapes for this paperweight by Theresa Rarig. Applied shank. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#33 Cherub Among the Grapes
A fine painting on silk of a plump golden haired cherub picking grapes. The grapes and surrounding leaves are embroidered. Early 19th C. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#34 Horn with Brass Grapes
Molded black horn features a brass escutcheon of a bunch of grapes with foliage. The horn has a hexagonal lined center recess and a repeated botanical sprig motif border design. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#35 Small Grapes Quartet
Bunches of grapes on four small buttons including a horn inlay, a champlevé enamel, a silver lustered black glass, and a brass tole. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#36 Realistic Arita Grapes
An unmarked Arita porcelain in the realistic design of a bunch of grapes. Soft mauve coloring with gold finish on the stem. Self shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#37 Grapes Screenback Turned Corners
An extra-large handkerchief corners brass features a bunch of grapes and foliage against a screenback. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#38 18th-C Autumn Festival
Two couples and a fellow with a bottle of seasonal cheer in a beautiful fixé landscape painting. Tinned sheet-iron back and copper rim & loop shank. Est. selling price is $400-600.
#39 Pietra Dura Grapes
Carefully selected stone disks create the impression of luscious grapes on this pietra dura inlay (stone in stone ) set in brass with cut-steel border. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#40 Putto In Ivy Covered Niche
Large Div. I molded black glass depicts a putto in an ivy covered archway or niche. Matte finish with shiny finish for the ivy leaves. Shown BBB on the text page description of PL 185. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#41 18th-C Embroidered Silk
Embroidered silk from the 18th century with a delicate floral design and embroidered border. The fabric is gathered and stitched in place on the reverse over the inner mold. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#42 Shell Scene with Pierced Border
Cameo carved shell features a figure in front of a building with steps, all framed by the pierced border embellished with four steel jewels. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#43 Cartier Enamel
A fine basse-taille enamel with embedded gold foil leaves and star. Early 20th C. Backmark CARTIER Paris-Londres with silver hallmarks on the reverse and shank. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#44 Sterling Grapes
Large one-piece silver featuring a bunch of grapes with foliage on a stippled ground. Backmark STERLING. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#45 Deluxe Blue Monochrome Enamel
Oval blue monochrome enamel featuring a young woman is framed by a sparkling border of brilliants. Silver mount with silver wire loop shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#46 Noble Drake Butterfly Inlay
Translucent blue plexiglass (acrylic) sew-thru button, inlaid with three mother-of-pearl butterflies, made by Noble Drake. There is engraving on both materials. Early 1940’s. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#47 Velvet Back Art Nouveau Tree
Lovely Art Nouveau design in brass over black velvet and embellished with steel jewels. Japanned reverse with brass shank. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#48 Arts & Crafts Enamel Buckle
English Arts and Crafts silver and enamel buckle. Enameled in turquoise and blue on hammered silver, characteristic of the Liberty style of that period. Illustrated in “The Liberty Style” published by Rizzoli, 1979. Hallmarked Birmingham 1906. Est. selling price is $400-600.
#49 H.F.Meyers Porcelain Cornflowers
Blue cornflowers over a creamy background with a peach blush on this painted porcelain by Harry F. Meyers, china decorator, born about 1873. Reference article “Rediscovering H.F.M. -42-” by Judy Stopke. NBS July 2015 p. 116-119. Reverse is signed and dated H.F.M -42- with a self shank. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#50 Scalloped Shibayama
A butterfly with wings of abalone decorates this natural material shibayama button with scalloped shape. Sepia tinted engraving forms a border around the rim. Self peg shank on the reverse. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#51 Arts & Crafts
Enameled sterling signed by William Hutton & Sons, hallmarked for Birmingham, 1903, depicts a hanging cluster of leaves bordered by their branch. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#52 Gutta Percha Wheat
A high-relief and well-detailed sheaf of wheat and a sickle are molded in gutta percha. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#53 Cameo Couple
A man and woman cuddle beneath a bower on this dramatic sew-thru shaded pearl cameo. Additional info (after catalog printing): Identified as Paul and Virginia, as they shelter from the storm under a banana leaf! Reference the NBS article by Carole Adrian, July 2007, p. 114-117. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#54 18th-C Wax Woman Under Glass
A woman wearing a bonnet and carrying a basket of flowers was formed from wax on this 18th century button. All elements of the scene are in wax, even her little red shoes. Mounted under glass with copper rim and copper reverse. Est. selling price is $600-1500.
#55 Oval Liberty Enamel
A rare Sterling silver Liberty of London oval button, enameled in two colors. Designed by Archibald Knox. It is unusually thick and has a characteristic Liberty silver shank. Backmarked L & C, Birmingham, 1903, Cymric. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#56 Monochrome Enamel Cherub
Monochrome enamel of a cherub playing a lute within a fancy border. Silvered reverse with silvered wire shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#57 Arts & Crafts Enamel Floral
Art Nouveau silver flower with characteristic Arts and Crafts turquoise enamel. Reverse shows backmark William Hutton & Sons, Birmingham 1905. Silver loop shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#58 18th-C Embellished Copper
Three concentric circles of copper, silvered copper, and brass with the outermost copper circlet embellished with steel discs and blue pastes. The engraved center brass circle features a blue center paste. Rare. One steel disappeared over time and one steel repaired. All pastes intact.
Est. selling price is $400-600.
#59 Hutton Art Nouveau
Enameled sterling signed by William Hutton & Sons, hallmarked for Birmingham, 1903. An Art Nouveau design from the Arts & Crafts era. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#60 Silver Cupid with Birds and Bell
Hallmarked silver with numerous interesting elements including Cupid stringing a garland across the sky, a bird, two dogs, and two distinct hills in the scene, all encircled by the rope border. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#61 Steel Bees on Brass
Seven steel bees fly in formation against the woven textured brass background, perhaps representing the sides of a bee skep. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#62 Small Shibayama Bird with Cherries
A bird in mother-of-pearl rests on a flowering branch with both blooms and fruit on this small and exquisite old shibayama in natural material. Carved self shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#63 Realistic Green Apple Arita
A green apple with stem in unmarked Arita porcelain. Molded self shank on the green glazed reverse. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#64 Enamel with Jewel Border
An interesting and unusual champlevé enamel in a berries and floral design is distinctive by the lack of enamel in the background. The raised paste and green glass embellished border further heightens the dimensional interest. Silver or silvered metal mount. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#65 Brooks Swan
A swan swims on the water against a metallic green background on this hand painted casein by the English artists, Edith and Alan Brooks. Self shank. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#66 Cupid Robbing the Nest Twinkle
This large brass pictorial has been titled both “Teasing Mother Bird” and “Robbing the Bird’s Nest”. This example features a screenback “twinkle” background. Shown BBB PL. 189-1. Japanned reverse with metal loop shank. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#67 Brown Monotone Enamel
Lovely enamel in monochrome brown tones depicting a woman with a bird perched on her hand. Irregular gilt scrolled border design. Gilt reverse with wire loop shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#68 XLG Carved and Pierced Fan
Exquisitely carved in natural material, this realistic fan features a bird in flight with long tail feathers flowing and following behind. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#69 Porcelain Bird
Beautiful hand-painted bisque porcelain in a gilded setting with applied true rope-twist border. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#70 Birmingham Trade Fabric
A celluloid shield protects the jacquard woven fabric in colors of coral and gold on a teal background for this Birmingham trade button. Brass rim and back with brass loop shank. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#71 Artist’s Feather Habitat
This nature’s “treasure box” habitat contains beautiful and special natural elements including three hummingbird feathers, dried tiny mushrooms, a robin’s egg shell, a tiny Japanese maple leaf, redshank, a real pearl, and a luna moth wing for the background. Mounted under glass in a wood frame by studio artist Bess Mott. All of her natural materials are responsibly sourced. Artist’s signature stamp is on the reverse. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#72 Four Fowl Turn-Again Pattern
An elaborately carved design in wood features four heads of geese or ducks with necks intertwined. Centered in the design is a striped green glass cabochon. Shaped brass mount with roped rim. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#73 XLG Square Cone Shank Glass
An extra-large square green glass button embellished with gold twirls. The center is molded with a squared glass pyramid, bordered in gold. Cone shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#74 Woman with Bird Enamel Transfer
A lovely woman with long curled tresses contemplates the bird perched on her hand. Monochrome printing on enamel and set in a silver border. Early 19th C. Brass reverse with brass wire shank. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#75 Milk Glass in Brass
Rose blooms and gilded molded bands decorate this white glass mounted in brass. The brass reverse shows a self hump shank. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#76 Paper Hummingbird
Large lacquered paper depicting a colorful hummingbird sipping nectar from a large flower. Studio by Sandra Smathers. Signed and dated on the reverse “SJ 95.” Applied plastic shank. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#77 Woodback Bee
This large woodback features a large brass bee with steel shapes embellishing its wings. Decorative brass rim border. Shown BBB PL 151-2. The japanned steel reverse shows evidence of an original buckle attachment. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#78 Pietra Dura Insects
A rare and unusual Pietra Dura of malachite, goldstone, onyx, and agate surrounded by a gold and embossed ornamental border. From the mid-19th century. Silver reverse with silver wire shank. Est. selling price is $400-600.
#79 Bees and Gate
A blooming rose bush, a garden gate, and three steel bees decorate this engraved brass with original tint. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#80 Steel Insect
Individually riveted steel jewels in various shapes and sizes comprise this delightful insect design. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#81 DuBois Peacock Paperweight
A perky peacock displays his white feathered tail in this studio paperweight. The cobalt blue base includes goldstone accents. Created by the versatile artist Nancy DuBois. Signed on the reverse ND DuBois with 2001 date. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#82 Aluminum Swan Couture
Gilded aluminum swan crafted in France in the late 1940’s from unused war machinery by Font Guillot. See examples of this in Loic Allio’s book, “A Button Odyssey.” Cast self slab shank. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#83 Deluxe Peacock Eye Jewel
A vivid, foil-embedded peacock eye set into a deep mount with a tooled rim and inner border of cut steels. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#84 Gilded Peacock Carved Shell
An abalone shell peacock laminated to the mother-of-pearl base with engraved and gilded detail makes for a delightful scene. The brass shank was reinforced with epoxy or adhesive at some point in its history. Est. selling price is $400-600.
#85 Gilt Bow Over Glass
Gilded brass overlay on a foil-embedded glass background. The colors of the glass are typical of the Art Nouveau period with an embossed border depicting a ribbon bow. Late 19th C. to early 20th C. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#86 Greenaway Gazing Ball Pair
A medium brass depicting two Kate Greenaway-type children admiring a Victorian gazing ball in a garden in both an NBS small and medium size. Shown BBB PL 192-11. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#87 Pearl Iris
Carved and pierced iris in pearl from Jordan. Paper label on the reverse. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#88 Monochrome Grotto
Mid-Victorian monochromatic emaux peints in lavender, depicting a grotto folly on an estate. Follies like this one were favorites of 19th-century landscapers. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#89 Peacock Jewel with Flashed Pastes
Fabulous jewel with center oval peacock’s eye on a gilt and painted openwork setting embellished with eight glittering prong mounted pastes with flashed pink and green color. Gilt reverse with loop shank. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#90 Horn Heron Inlay
Natural horn featuring an inlay of a heron with a bite of dinner in its bill. Silver luster decorative finish. Self shank. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#91 Verbal Work Clothes Group
Eight working man’s brass verbal work clothes buttons from the late 19th century or early 20th century. Logos and verbiage include U.S. WAGE EARNER, THE M.MFG.Co. BRAND, CYRUS W. SCOTT’S LEVEL BEST, MADE BY THE MEN National CLEVELAND, Enterprise, IDEAL CLO. CO, BREAD WINNER, and MONARCH GUARANTEED. Both wobble shanks and stationary loop shanks. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#92 Union Pacific M/D
Titled the “Union Pacific”, this scarce transportation button depicts a train on a stone bridge in a mountain setting. The scene features a cutout background and pierced bridge, along with the pierced “twinkle” border design. Shown BBB PL 242-14. This lot includes both a medium and large size. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#93 Spanish Overalls
A scarce work clothes brass featuring a large building and Spanish verbiage. EL ANILLO DE HIERRO translates to “the iron ring.” Wire loop wobble shank. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#94 Auto Ride
A lone driver out for a country ride in the newfangled transportation of the time on this large silvered brass. Reverse shows two air holes and the brass wire loop shank. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#95 Motiwala Bull Rider
Enamel on copper set in silver by the Indian master craftsman. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#96 Arita Horse
An Arita porcelain realistic horse decked out in festival finery. Backmarked on the reverse. Self shank. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#97 Horse Tugging Bonnet
A horse tugs at a woman’s bonnet on this scarce brass scene with what is likely a pressed cellulose background (not wood). Japanned reverse with brass wire loop shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#98 Battersea Enamel Stable Scene
A superb transfer printed enamel in soft brown, probably Battersea, 1753-1756. Finely set in a double gilt mounting. The unusual shank of two crossed gilded copper wires imitates the catgut shanks of wood or bone back buttons of the early-mid 18th century. Reference BBB PL 12-16. Est. selling price is $600-1500.
#99 Coalport Porcelain
Rare porcelain sailboat, painted within a gilded border and gilded shank. The reverse is well marked England Coalport A.D. 1750 V4875. Although founded in 1750, Coalport Porcelain began producing buttons only in the early 20th century. Illustrated in “Buttons” by Epstein-Saftro, pg. 143. The button also appears on the cover of the book. Est. selling price is $400-600.
#100 Horse Head Steel
Very fine, early 19th century etched and engraved horse’s head on gilded steel, on a granulated gold background. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#101 Arctic Carvings
Four buttons carved by native Alaskan artists including the realistic head of a bird, a realistic bear head and a contour bear head, and a realistic fish or whale. The bird head is a sew-thru and the others have carved self shanks. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#102 Restored Habitat
A restored 18th century habitat button features a bright array of marine findings over a blue painted ground. The original glass was replaced with clear acrylic. The copper rim was beautifully restored, along with the original reverse. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#103 Ships on Pearl Painting
This scene of two large sailing ships at sea was exquisitely painted over iridescent pearl by a Russian artist. Artist’s signature is on the lower left front. Silver rim and back mount decorated with a double rope border. Silver loop shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#104 18th-C Jeweled Passementerie
18th century passementerie with design under glass center bordered by rectangular glass insets. Shown in “Buttons” by Epstein-Safro, pg. 21. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#105 Clam Shell Lake Scene
Unique and irregularly shaped realistic clam shell scene depicting two figures rowing on a lake bordered by a rugged shoreline, trees, a bridge, and buildings. A staircase leads towards the shore. Copper wire shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#106 Foil DUG Quartet
Four small foil designs under glass sparkle with brilliant color. A spindle shape and an oval are included. Silver rims and mounts. Silver shanks. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#107 Gates Watch Crystal Sailboat
A paper cutout of a sailboat skimming along the water decorates this watch crystal by the late T.J. Gates. Typical pitch reverse with artist’s signature T.J.G. Wire loop shank. Est. selling price is $10-30.
#108 Large Arita Fish
Large and wonderful realistic blue colored fish in Arita porcelain. Reverse shows backmark TK within a circle, red JAPAN stamp, and self shank. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#109 Shell Background
Scarce in any version, the shell-background version of this Victorian portrait button is especially rare. Note the shapes of the cut steels that form his clothing. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#110 Realistic Swirlback
A cranberry red glass realistic head swirlback. So rare. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#111 Realistic Fish
A realistic shaped fish in natural material with engraved detail. Two-hole sew thru. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#112 Three Musketeers
From the well-known story by Alexander Dumas. Silvered brass with fine die work. Backmark QUALITE SUPERIEURE, PARIS. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#113 18th-C Two-Color Gold on Copper
18th century two-color gold braised onto copper with center flower and leafy garland border design. Backmarked with European hallmarks. Est. selling price is $600-1500.
#114 Early Scrimshaw
Early and fine scrimshaw button depicting a sailing vessel viewed from off its bow. Swaged-in silver or silver-plated shank. Est. selling price is $600-1500.
#115 Enamel Fish and Moon
Champlevé enamel on a gilded ruled field depicting the elements, moon and star, fish and water. Late 19th century. Gilded reverse with a wire shank. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#116 Arctic Hunting Scene
An oblong bisque ware ceramic octagon features a line drawing transfer of an arctic fisherman on the hunt. A Stella Rzanski button. Self shank. Signed and dated on the reverse, S.R. ‘83. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#117 Red Lacy Glass
Scarce Div. I red glass lacy, large size. Original back paint still covers most of the reverse. Brass shank. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#118 Austro-Hungarian Enamel Jewel
A rare and ornate Austro-Hungarian silver button, pierced, enameled, jeweled, with filigree decoration. Probably late 17th century or early 18th century with later assay marks. Shown in “Buttons” by Epstein-Safro, pg. 55. Est. selling price is $600-1500.
#119 Mermaid Livery
A mermaid combs her long tresses as she checks herself in a handheld mirror on this one-piece brass livery. Backmarked EXTRA SUPERIOR QUALITY. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#120 Burwood Alligator
Realistic sew-thru Burwood alligator. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#121 Jasperware Waistcoat
Small wedgwood floral medallion with center silver bead (not a pin shank). Mounted in silver with a decorative serrated edge. Silver loop shank. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#122 Dancer Enamel
Attractive enamel featuring a gold foil dancer on a red background surrounded by embedded foil stars. Double borders include a leaf garland over a white background border and an outer red dotted border. Counter-enameled reverse in cobalt blue. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#123 Art Nouveau Portrait with Enamel
Gilded portrait of a lovely lady is enhanced with cream enamel background and black enamel in the border design. Gilded reverse with loop shank. Backmarked EM PARIS. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#124 Out the Window!
Humorous, detailed and naughty scene of a father or husband emptying a chamber pot on an unwanted visitor flirting with a semi-nude woman at the lower window. France, early 20th century. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#125 Small Enamel Portrait
Textured red foil is a striking background for the enamel portrait on this small and exquisite button. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#126 Diminutive Fan on Pinna Shell
Square pinna shell button featuring an engraved and gilded fan. Tiny clear pastes decorate the fan. Studio by Nancy DuBois. Est. selling price is $30-60.
#127 Heart Enamel
A shepherdess holds her staff on this emaux peints enamel scene with champlevé border for the heart shaped button. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#128 Foil Enhanced Portrait
A fine miniature painting of a woman’s head wearing a fashionable foil hat and clearly defined necklace. Her face and notably her eyes, are exquisitely painted. Mounted under glass with copper rim. Mid-19th century. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#129 Jeweled Natural Material
Large natural material button with inset brass escutcheon crowned by intermixed glass and highlighted with cut steels. Est. selling price is $400-600.
#130 Cupid with Verbal Garland
An oval enamel features a cherub holding a ribbon marked “Esperanza” (hope or expectations). Gilded metal mount, mid-late 19th century. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#131 French Naughty
One-piece French white metal depicts a detailed interior and a woman in a state of undressing while a bearded man peeks through the window. This button is also known as “Rape of Lucrece,” representing a scene in Shakespeare’s poem of that name. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#132 Woman at Table
An extra-large Victorian wooden button with a brass escutcheon of a woman holding a distaff and seated at a table on which an oil lamp burns. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#133 DuBois Pearl Carriage Scene
A large antique pearl button with an intricately engraved and tinted scene of a two-horse carriage transport. By the talented and versatile artist Nancy DuBois. Reverse is signed and dated NB 1999. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#134 Deluxe Painted Portrait
This pretty lady’s portrait, painted on natural material and set under glass, is distinctive for the blue flowers in her hair and on her dress, and the generous blue makeup above her eyes. A pink bow adorns her neck. The background is painted with a lovely watercolor effect. A border of sparkling brilliants frames the portrait. Silver mount and heavy silver loop shank. Est. selling price is $200-400.
#135 Shell Castle Scene
Cameo carved from dark to light, this shell features an intricate castle scene with no less than five towers. Two female figures stand near the castle’s entrance and two palm trees grace both sides of the scene. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#136 Small Crown Lacy Glass
A small and scarce pictorial Div. I lacy glass featuring a crown. Three colors of decorative finish were applied to the front surface: gold, silver, and pink. The reverse paint is a silver circular band that does not cover the center of the back. Est. selling price is $60-100.
#137 Sheet Overlay
A white-over-red glass sheet overlay with glass-on-glass milk glass head, set in a gilded mounting. Est. selling price is $100-200.
#138 18th-C Glass with Copper Rim
From the 18th century, a clear crystal with facets on both the front and back surface is rimmed in copper with a center copper pin shank. Est. selling price is $400-600.