HEADS AND FIGURES
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Antiquewear presents antique buttons fashioned to jewelry. Buttons are original
of the 1800's. The jewelry parts are contemporary.
Item #: head1. Button: In pewter, fashioned to a 4 compartment locket available
with chain or bowpin. Circa 1870's. Price $65.
Item #: head2. Button: King Arthur, fashioned to a 4 compartment locket with chain
or bowpin. Circa 1880's. Price $55.
Item #: head6. Button: Minerva, in glass set within a heart border. Circa 1880's.
Price $55.
MINERVA (ATHENA), the Greek Goddess of Battle, Wisdom, Women's Handcrafts. In
a contest for a patron god to Athens, Poseidon created the first horse and Athena
planted an Olive Tree. The olive was judged of greater benefit to wo(man)kind.
She was the offspring of Zeus by Metis, a mortal who was an unwilling mate. Due
to a prophecy that the child would threaten his position as chief of the gods,
Zeus swallowed her whole. Later, suffering a terrible headache, out sprang Athena,
fully grown and fully armed.
Item #: head4. Button: Peter Paul Rubens. From the self portrait painted by the
artist around 1640. Pressed wood mounted in a brass setting with small,
decorative prongs that fasten over the front. Fashioned to a 4 compartment locket.
Circa 1880's. Price $60.
Item #: head11. Button: Minerva. A detailed brass escutcheon set on carved mother
of pearl. Circa 1880's. Price $75. SOLD
Item #: head12. Glass cameo set in brass. A glass jewel button fashioned to a
4 compartment locket with chain or bowpin.
Circa 1860-70's. Price $55.
Item #: head3. Button: Woman standing outside of house. Carved cameo in ocean
pearl set within a border of individually set faceted steel pyrites. 4 Compartment
locket with chain or bowpin. Circa 1870's. Price $100.
Item #: head10. Button: Cameo in carved mother of pearl. 4 compartment locket
with chain or bowpin.
Circa 1870's. Price $100.
Item #: head8. Button: Departure of Lohengrin. 4 compartment locket with chain
or bowpin. Circa 1880's. Price $55.
From the romantic opera by Richard Wagner, 1850. Elsa is accused of killing Gottfried,
her brother, who disappeared. She is summoned to submit her case to the ordeal
of a trial by battle. she names and unknown knight and when the trumpets sound,
Lohengrin appears in a boat drawn by a swan. Before the combat, Elsa promises
to marry him and never to ask his name. Later, Elsa becomes curious and questions
him. He tell her he is the son of Perceval, Knight Of The Holy Grail (Swan Knight).
The swan boat reappears and he bids her an eternal farewell.
Item #: head9. Button: Lohengrin, from the romantic opera by Richard Wagner. 4
compartment locket with chain or bowpin.
Circa 1880's. Price $65.
Item #: head5. Button: Classical Head in glass set in brass; a Glass Jewel button.
4 compartment locket with chain or bowpin. Circa 1860-70's. Price $55.
Item #: head7. Button: Lucy & Edgar. 4 compartment locket with chain or bowpin.
Circa 1880's. Price $55.
From "The Bride of Lamermoor" by Sir Walter Scott. Donizetti's tragic opera, "Lucia
di Lamamoor", was based upon Scott's novel which traces the fate of the two young
lovers separated by family strife. The scene on the button represents Lucy and
Edgar at the Mermaiden's Well, where the sun is setting as they pledge their love
to each other.
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