Sterling Silver and Mother of Pearl Star Button Pendant
In sterling silver, mother of pearl and spinel gemstone, this star button pendant draws inspiration from the Coat Button (pictured on the right) on display in the collections of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. The Coat Button made of pink conch shell, set in gold with a silver-plated boss and a gilt ten-pointed star at its center, is one of many believed to have been owned by George Washington (circa 1789-1797).
By the 1790s, large, luminescent disks made of exotic materials had superseded the earlier taste for modest buttons of metal or fabric on men's coats. Washington purportedly gave this button to Colonel Richard Kidder Meade, his aide-de-camp during the Revolutionary War, who in turn had it mounted as a pin and presented to his wife.
Spinel has a characteristic crystal shape, which looks like two back-to-back pyramids. Like ruby, spinel is found in alluvial deposits; it ranks 8 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it a tough, durable and hard to scratch gem, perfect for jewelry that one might wear every day. The spinel is valued for its beauty and rarity and is commonly mistaken for black diamonds with its opaque, jet-black appearance.
A perfect gift for the Holidays or any special occasion.
- Mother of Pear Star button is approximately ¾ in. in diameter
- With an extendable 10 in. chain