Part of our Cute as a Button Collection, Kirsten’s Corner created this charm by using a 1920’s button as a mold, and casting the piece in 14k gold. The button has a wonderful Egyptian Revival design: a goddess is pictured being lifted on a doglike, tasseled palanquin or chariot. She holds an orb in front of her, perhaps lighting the way, and she is surrounded by hieroglyphics, a bird, and eyes. The ingot-shape is filled up compositionally with all the design elements, and the piece is rich with symbolism and cryptography.
The Egyptian Revival button used as a mold for the piece was from the third wave of Egyptian Revival that flourished in the 1920’s after the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb. Earlier waves of the fashion trend took place in the 1840’s and again in the 1890’s, each time a response to the unearthing of Egyptian treasures. The archeological discoveries of the 1920’s brought the trend into fashion once again.
The charm hangs from an oversized bail (9.4 x 11.3 mm) to accommodate a larger chain. The square charm measures 11/16” x 11/16”. It weighs 6.4 grams.
