A set of twelve coin silver buttons by John Pittman.

A set of twelve coin silver buttons by John Pittman, an early Virginia silversmith who worked variously in Falmouth, Fredericksburg, and Alexandria, between 1791 and 1829. He left Virginia for a time to work as a clock repairer in Pennsylvania before returning to Fredericksburg.

This set of buttons is marked "JP". These letters appear to be identical to the first two letters of Pittman's known mark, and they are certainly of the right period to have been made by him. Early marked silver buttons by a southern maker are practically unknown. This exceptional set should be in a museum. These one inch buttons are all marked twice. Some marks are better than others but all are readable.

1500.00