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Button, Button, Who’s Got the Button?

A New Wing Family Mystery with More Questions than Answers

By Elizabeth Fulford


Recently, an English metal detectorist contacted WFA Historian, Sharon Ahearn, about the above pictured button, and, as you can see, the embossing strongly resembles the WFA crest. Leon, the detectorist lives in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK.

Leon describes the button like this: “The button is approximately 190 years old but still holds some of the gold gilding! The maker on the reverse of the button was difficult to identify but after some time looking through a jewelry loupe and researching online, I found it was produced by Norzell & Son, 21 Bouverie St., London in around 1830.”


Originally, the button would have been attached to a household livery or servant’s uniform, or, less likely, a military uniform.