Silver button

The decorative button comprised a part of a hoard discovered during agricultural works in 1859 in Kurów, Koszalin district. Silver coins and ornaments from the late 10th century were placed in a clay vessel. Silver buttons are decorative elements which have many applications. They could be used as appliqués sewn on to clothes or pendants, or be part of larger decorations, such as earrings, they could also be attached to headbands or scarves. A round silver button from Kurów, which has a diameter of 1.75 centimetres, is hollow inside. Its entire surface is covered with silver granules. The technique of decorating the surface with tiny granules is referred to as granulation, and it was used to create various floral and geometric ornaments. This technique dates back to the ancient Greeks and Etruscans. Granules were obtained by pouring molten metal onto water or charcoal. The metal splashed and solidified to form round pieces of various sizes, which were then sorted on sieves with various sizes. Size-matched granules were attached to the surface of the ornament by soldering in order to obtain previously designed patterns.

Ewa Górkiewicz-Bucka