Edwardian mess dress buttons?
 

I am familiar with all-metal mess dress buttons, e.g. this Grenadier Guards Geo VI button. The other vest button dates from the reign of Edward VII and has a mother of pearl base. Have such buttons been been used on military mess dress or were they for civilian use on waistcoats?

Hi Btns,

Not going to be much help I am afraid.

They are not really my collecting area, so this a bit of guesswork & assumptions.

I had assumed they were worn by Officer's on their Mess Dress Vests in 'moneyed' Regiments, based on the fact that I have only seen them for the Cavalry & Guards Regiments. But that doesn't mean there are not any similar Infantry/Corps Mother of Pearl buttons out there - just that I haven't seen them or paid attention to them

There is a similar Mother of Pearl button for the Coldstream Guards on eBay at the moment.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW2-Colds...QAAOSwfCZciCCI

Sorry couldn't be more help.

Ian

This lot appeared recently at a local Auction House described as Miniature Military Cap Badges, I didn't get chance to examine them unfortunately but to my eyes they appear to be buttons of a similar construction.

https://www.windibank.co.uk/auction_...-AFA52CEC519D}

Simon.

Very nice indeed.
As you say they look exactly the same materials & construction as the other buttons in the thread.
There are some very nice Mother of Pearl Infantry & Corps buttons there along with the Guards & Cavalry buttons.
I think that at £28 + costs for the lot - somebody did very well with those buttons.

Ian

Ian,

Unfortunately I missed the Auction as I would have had a go at them at that price. I wonder if they are a Sales Sample or similar given the way they are displayed with the reference numbers to the reverse.

Simon.