Background/Story
There are a surprising number of livery buttons with variations of this image, that of a black man, shown in profile, wearing a headband. Several years ago I tried to find an explanation for this image being on British livery buttons. I went as far as finding a family whose livery button had this image and whose family still resides in the manor house of their ancestors. I emailed the family and asked if they could enlighten me about the significance of the image of the black man on the family livery button. I was told that the explanation was lost to history. But I was told that the same image is also on display in the house, carved into the wood paneling of one of the rooms of the manor house. I am still curious about the meaning of this symbolism. I need to make another attempt to find the explanation. Please let me know if you have any suggestions.
This button links to the 2023 October Button Aerogramme story titled “Mileposts”.
Back marked PITT & SONS, MADDOX St. LONDON.
We found two buttons of the same front design, each with a different back mark.
