Royal Navy Button – Toronto History Museums Shop

Description

These are two reproductions of 1812 Royal Navy (Naval uniform) flat buttons, which would have most likely have been worn by a midshipman. Diameter: approx. 2.25cm Brass-Plated (Lead-free pewter) Pewter (Lead-free) Both buttons feature a fouled anchor with the rope tied to the ring at the top. One button is brass-plated

These are two reproductions of 1812 Royal Navy (Naval uniform) flat buttons, which would have most likely have been worn by a midshipman.

Diameter: approx. 2.25cm
Brass-Plated (Lead-free pewter)
Pewter (Lead-free)

Both buttons feature a fouled anchor with the rope tied to the ring at the top. One button is brass-plated, and has both a smooth edge and a smooth background. The rope goes under the left-hand stock, then snakes around under the shank towards the right, then curves back under the shank to the left, under the left-hand fluke, before it curls upwards, under the crown and then under the right-hand arm.

The second button is pewter and features a cabled rope edge. On a grainy, textured background, is a fouled anchor with the rope tied to the ring at the top. It goes under the right-hand stock, then snakes around over the shank towards the left, then curves around back under the shank to the right, and then trails out under the left-hand fluke towards the left.

The fouled anchor device itself was first recorded in use in the seal of the Lord High Admiral of Scotland in 1402. It was subsequently adopted in the Admiralty seal and by a large number of navies throughout the world. The rope 'fouling' has no specific twist and may be deemed to be correct however it fits around the anchor. In 1774 the fouled anchor surrounded by rope edging design become ubiquitous, and in 1787 the same device, with the addition of a wreath of laurel leaves, was adopted for Admirals. When the Merchant Navy started to use the fouled anchor device, a crown was added for all naval officers in 1812. The same basic design remains in use today.