Field Marshal’s mounted gilt button, 23mm

A very handsome and scarce example of the gilt mounted button worn on the full dress uniform of a Field Marshal. It has the device of crossed batons [compared with the crossed baton and sword of a General] within a wreath surmounted by a Victorian crown. There is just a very little wear to the high points of the design. The backmark is JENNENS &Co, LONDON. By the nature of their original owners these buttons very rarely appear. For example in Howard Ripley’s standard work Buttons of the British Army 1855 – 1970  he does not illustrate one,  although he shows both standard and full dress examples worn by general officers. Taking at random a late Victorian year, 1894, there were only three Field Marshals apart from HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH the Duke of Cambridge.   jun15/