Material: Gilded Brass
Diameter: 22mm
Maker: A.M. & Cie
Design: This artifact is a classic example of a French Navy (Marine Nationale) officer uniform button from the 19th or early 20th century. The central motif features a prominent vertical anchor tightly wrapped with a coiled ship's cable, symbolizing a "fouled anchor" which is an iconic naval emblem used globally for centuries. Framing the anchor are two stylized acanthus scrolls along the upper rim, a distinct decorative flourish favored on French military and administrative insignia to project status, prestige, and institutional authority. The button features a raised, smooth outer border and a convex surface designed to catch the light on a formal wool blazer or coat.
Reverse: This image documents the reverse side of the uniform button, featuring an authentic stamping from a renowned historical French manufacturer. The circular back houses an inset central zone with a structural metal shank fastening, encircled by the clean stamped text reading "A.M & Cie" across the upper curve and "PARIS" along the base. Strikingly, the manufacturer incorporated two tiny anchor pictorial symbols flanking the text horizontally to align with the button's maritime purpose. The golden brass surface retains a bright, reflective patina, indicating excellent preservation of the original factory gilding over decades of historical storage.
Circa: 1853-1930
Notes:
The combination of the fouled anchor and acanthus scrolls is highly characteristic of French Restoration, July Monarchy, and Third Republic naval attire. Because the French Navy also utilized crowns above the anchor during imperial and monarchical periods, the absence of a crown on this specific piece helps date it precisely to republican or transitional eras of French maritime history.
The initials "A.M & Cie" correspond to the distinguished French button-making firm of Deshayes Masse et Cie, which operated in Paris between 1853 and 1960. Button enthusiasts pay close attention to customized pictorial details on a backmark, as the inclusion of small anchor motifs indicates a specialized production run ordered exclusively for naval contracts rather than a generic military supply. The crisp clarity of the stamped lettering and the pristine condition of the brass substantially enhance its historical and collectible value, as backmarks on poorly preserved or excavated uniform components are typically obscured by oxidation.