Eagle Button,Military??

[Ohio Jerry]

Found at an old sandstone cellarhole, any ideas on age or whether it would be military or civilian? I've looked at pictures of hundreds of eagle buttons but most of the heads seem to be facing left and I'm not having any luck matching this one up Back says only "double gilt" Thanks in advance for any input.
Jerry

 

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[Woodland Detectors]

Hey Jerry. I couldn't find it either but check out this little info.




The first wonderfully sparkly gilt buttons were made in Birmingham between 1797 and 1800. They were elegant, yet affordable. People took to them immediately, and they became the height of fashion. Even the Americans began making gilt buttons by 1810, after stealing the gilding secret from the British!

Actually, the process was a fairly simple one. Five grains of gold per gross (144) of buttons was added to a mixture of mercury, then brushed on the brass buttons, which were then cooked in a furnace. Buttons could be double gilt, triple gilt, and so on, depending on the number of grains or number of brushings used.

The new gilt buttons were the vanguard of a "golden age" of metal buttonmaking that flourished in the first half of the 19th century, and produced buttons that haven't been equaled to this day. Sporting buttons for the gent, military buttons for the soldier, even livery buttons for the household servant were all beautifully crafted.

 

[CRUSADER]

Nice, looks 1812 era, but its a rough guess.

 

[PBK]

Looks as if it might be a c. 1810's-20's Militia button.

If you have Albert's book, compare the design to that of #GI 65B, a button made by A. M. Peasley of Boston, 1810-23.

 

[Ohio Jerry]

Hey Jerry. I couldn't find it either but check out this little info.




The first wonderfully sparkly gilt buttons were made in Birmingham between 1797 and 1800. They were elegant, yet affordable. People took to them immediately, and they became the height of fashion. Even the Americans began making gilt buttons by 1810, after stealing the gilding secret from the British!

Actually, the process was a fairly simple one. Five grains of gold per gross (144) of buttons was added to a mixture of mercury, then brushed on the brass buttons, which were then cooked in a furnace. Buttons could be double gilt, triple gilt, and so on, depending on the number of grains or number of brushings used.

The new gilt buttons were the vanguard of a "golden age" of metal buttonmaking that flourished in the first half of the 19th century, and produced buttons that haven't been equaled to this day. Sporting buttons for the gent, military buttons for the soldier, even livery buttons for the household servant were all beautifully crafted.

Thanks for that info,always wondered about the process of gilding. An old 4-h'er myself.I think i started at 9yrs old cause my aunt was the club leader and stayed in til i was 14. Loved camp every summer.I remember my last year at camp was 69 and everyone was talking about Woodstock ...jeez i'm really giving away my age on that comment

Nice, looks 1812 era, but its a rough guess.

Thanks Crusader,when i don't have a clue I appreciate even a rough guess

Looks as if it might be a c. 1810's-20's Militia button.

If you have Albert's book, compare the design to that of #GI 65B, a button made by A. M. Peasley of Boston, 1810-23.

Thanks PBK,don't have Alberts book but i'm now watching one on ebay.. thanks a lot buddy,diggin this button probably just cost me 45 bucks LOL

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It looks like PBK nailed it.

One small thing I would like to point out is that the eagle is still facing the olive branch, not the war arrows. We discussed the eagle's head on a swivel on another post. http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,250603.0.html

A turn of the head... http://www.snopes.com/history/american/turnhead.asp

 

[BuckleBoy]

Looks as if it might be a c. 1810's-20's Militia button.

If you have Albert's book, compare the design to that of #GI 65B, a button made by A. M. Peasley of Boston, 1810-23.

Excellent ID.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

green check?