Vine backmark button

[cmthunder]

Can anyone I’d this button. It’s pretty bad but able to see vine on back and design on front possible silver gilt?
Suggestions to clean better

 

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[TheCannonballGuy]

That "vine-wreath" backmark usually has the word "Plated" at the top in between the two ends of the wreath. It dates from the 1790s to about 1830. At the time, the word "Plated" in a backmark always meant silver plated. That confirms your eyes are seeing some silver on your 1-piece brass flatbutton's front.

Also... at that time, it meant the famous Sheffield Plate, a process invented in Britain, in which a thin sheet of silver was bonded onto a thicker sheet of copper, or brass.. (see the Wikipedia entry.) Electroplating had not yet been perfected.

By the way... just a friendly small correction to what you wrote about it... there is no such thing as "silver gilt." The word Gilt always meant gold plate.

 

[cmthunder]

Thanks for the detail once again and correction on the gilt. Adds so much to the find when the knowledge is attached.
Thanks

 

[cmthunder]

Cleaned my button up with some Naval Jelly
Turns out it’s gold plated does this change anything CannonballGuy from your earlier description of Sheffield Plate?

 

[HuntinDog]

Very nice Gilted button...

" Cannonballguy,

By the way... just a friendly small correction to what you wrote about it... there is no such thing as "silver gilt." The word Gilt always meant gold plate. "​

 

[cmthunder]

Yes love the gilt thanks HuntinDog