Museum Monday / 8

Fleur de Lys are a common symbol around Louisiana. Originally it was representative of our French heritage, but has grown to include everything from the New Orleans Saints to the symbol of rebirth after Hurricane Katrina. They are often requested by our customers, but sadly not often found. We have some wonderful examples in the Button Museum that show just how important the Fleur de Lys is.

We love the rich luster of brass when combined with the hard sparkle of cut steel, and especially when it is combined in a button with fleur-de-lys designs.  The largest button here is really unusual--carved wood set with nail-like studs of cut steel.

The oval button is a very rare late Victorian etched pearl set with an enameled brass escutcheon--a showpiece button even for its day.  The ornately carved pearl is a mid-20th century "Bethlehem pearl," hand-carved with great skill for the tourist trade in the 1950s and 60s.

These all were made in the late 19th century from stamped or molded brass and were carefully hand-set with faceted crystals.  The large button is an 1890's opera cloak button featuring an intricate brass filigree where the tops of four fleur-de-lys hold a variegated green glass stone in place.Three gorgeous and very different French enamel buttons from the 1880s or 90s. We especially love the flowing Art Nouveau lines of the olive and turquoise button, and the silver paillettes set in indigo enamel.