Page 18 - December2001

272 \lATn0f\ AL BLITT 0N BL:LLETIN December 2001

B UTTo NS

Because this column and Christmas are special, we are
expanding it as our special gift to you.

This is one a-f the largest and most beautiful
lava carvings I have ever seen. It is not the
usual gray lava, it is a rich tan in color. It
vres found on a prize winning tray of Tint
Coleman of Delaw,are.

Wonders w,ithout
end! I have collected
the silver buttons
backmarked Koenig Knopf for
2 5 vears but never knet+, that a
horizontal oval with that backmark
existed, but here w,e ltave a beautful leap-
ing stallion, w,hich really geve nxe a kick w,hen I turnecl it
over and _found the Jamiliar "Button King" backmark.
(Keep looking at those backrnarks!)

This is a Japanese metalwork button v,ith gold
inlay and signature clepicting a domestic scene
of two w'onten at a table v,ith one, holcling
chopsticks. It is Jrom the collection of Lucille
Wein gart en of C al ifornia.

This brass rabbit
leaping across the button con-
trasts beautifully with the vertically
striped highu colored abalone base. It
is a serendipitous marriage of subject
and ntaterial, which explodes with
action. It is "fr"o* the collection of Marie
Johnson of lowa.