Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-08-04
BUTTONS THE LATEST FAD.
Large Sums Spent by Louis XIV. for These
Costly Decorations.

Costly Decorations.
Buttons are very popular Just mt
present. School children collect them
and, Judging from the number OF spe-
cimens in some of these collections,
largo amount of money must be IN
vested in the manufacture of these
goods. During the recent Preslden-
tial campaign an enormous number OK
buttons was sold, and the demand for
them, though less than it was, has by
no means died out. In view OF this
fact certain leading tailors are Won
dering whether this passion for but
tons may not signify that we are about
to return to the old custom OF wearing
costly and curious buttons on our
dress coats.
Eighteenth century buttons, espe-
cially those painted by Fragonard'
fetch great price to-day Formerly y
it was the custom to give these but
tons to friends as aspresents and to have
certain allegories OF other scenes
stamped on them in enamel.
The oldest buttons in existence are.
the gold ones which were discovered
by Schliemann at Mycene and those
which were found in the tomb of
Childeric 1. The latter, which were
formerly on exhibition at the Louvre,
are of gold and of glass co!ored in
imitation of granite. Curious buttons
have also been found on the caps and
religious garments OF the Middle
Ages and the Renaissance.
The costliest buttons ever made
were worn by Louis XIV. Here is a
list of those purchased during :ingle
year, as recorded in the "Register of
the Kings Precious Stones and Pres
ents" by Mazc-Sencier:-
February 3, 1GS5-Montarsy sent
to the King twenty-four buttons, each
containing diamond; value, l3S, 03o
francs.
May 7, 16s5-Six diamond buttons
made and delivered by Sieur Bose;
value, 1000 francs.
July 2G, 1GS5-Given by Montarsy
to the Marquis de Seignelay for the
King seventy-fve diamond buttons;
value, 5S6, 1913 francs.
August l. 16S5-Two diamond
buttons: value, 67,S66 francs.
August Is, 16S5-Thrce diamond
buttons; value, GO, $50 francs.
December 30, 1GS5-Four diamond
buttons; value, $3.50 francs.
Furthermore we are told that OF
July %, 1855, Montarsy furnished fol
the Kings waistcoat forty-eisht gold
buttons, each bearing diamond enc
nincty-six boutonnieres, of which
forty-eight were each composed O
five. diamonds and the ether forty
eight of one diamond, the value OF the
whole being 49,, 1913 francs. Three
hundred and twenty-four boutonniere'
were also furnished for the hing
vest, OF which one hundred and sixty
two were composed CT five diamonds
and the other one hundred and ninety
two OF ole diamond, the total value
being ,O06,345 francs. Finally fort,
boutonniere ornaments were furnished
to the King of which seven cost 201,
270 francs, aud the remaining thirty
three 5S4, ,36G francs.
Here we sec that sum of abou
3. l00. GOO francs 5000 00Ol was, 1spen
argue during a single year. Durln
the preceding year 1GS4l the cost wa
not 50 great, being only 1,071, 90
francs. The amounts here specified
however, are solely fof the buttons
and do not include the cost OF the dis
monds and precious sones which dec
GRATED The hat, shoes, buckles an
other portions of the Kings dress
New York Herald.