We were tempted to save the incredible cloak button centering this necklace for our button museum. We adore how the amethyst satin glass in the center is impeccably garnished with cut steel and gilded brass. It reminds us of a medieval king's court, so we named it Imperial Purple.
This button radiates the extraordinary exuberance of the 1890s. Known as the Gay Nineties, it was a decadent decade culturally akin to the Roaring Twenties. It was defined by Aubrey Beardsley's sensual black ink illustrations, Oscar Wilde's witty plays, and the birth of the suffragette movement.
In the button world, Gay Nineties is a collector's term describing the large, ornate buttons worn to fasten long hooded opera cloaks. Opera cloaks are common literary symbols for embarking on a vital journey into the spirit world, making us ponder the trip this button took to get to us and eventually to you.
In this piece:
- Stunning, deluxe jeweled cloak button, circa 1890
- Drop created with antique brass button and Czech glass bead
- Brass and silver-plated chain
- Length is 21” with a 4” extender
Shop the collection: Limited Editions
