1986.008.0108
Button
Physical Object
1986.008.0108a
Santa Margarita (1622)
circa 1620
A round, multi-faceted, crystal bead, slightly flattened in profile, appears to be made of quartz. It is centrally perforated, and the hole is fitted with a bronze wire, doubled and looped at one end, and fitted with a decorative bronze floret at the other to hold the bead and fix the loop in place. Similar crystal beads have been found in the southeastern US and are called “Florida Cut Crystal Beads,” with the belief that they were Spanish items designed to be traded with Native American peoples. These examples from Santa Margarita have no such context and appear to be decorative dress buttons. One of 6: See also 1986.008.0108b--f. Fragment of fitting detached (see 1986.008.0108b). One of 6 crystal buttons. See also 1986.008.0108b--f.