Material: Gilt brass
Size: 20 mm
Description: This striking piece is a multi-piece brass uniform button traditionally worn by naval officers and maritime personnel. The design features a beautifully raised fouled anchor, complete with a wrapped rope around the stock and shank, centered on an oval background with fine horizontal lining. Framing this central emblem is an outer raised rim adorned with a crisply stamped twisted rope pattern, which mirrors traditional maritime cordage.
Reverse: This is the reverse side of a vintage military-style brass button, showcasing a highly unusual two-hole self-shank configuration rather than a standard wire loop. The domed backplate features a warm, aged golden patina with significant surface mottling and minor oxidization consistent with burial recovery or decades of storage. Two crude, hand-punched or early machine-stamped slots sit near the center, allowing thick thread to pass directly through the hollow body of the piece to secure it to a tunic. A faint, incised circular border rings the outer edge, serving as a subtle design framing element before the metal rolls over to meet the front face plate.
Circa: 1800 - 1950
Notes:
Trying to positively id these buttons can be a difficult, frustrating experience. I am sure they all display some feature that allows positive identification and maybe over time i will be able to confirm. For now these buttons could be from an Officer in the Royal Navy, or from a jacket sold at a local boating store, or anything in between.