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Blennerhassett Livery Buttons
Household Livery Uniform Brass Buttons with the Blennerhassett coat-of-arms |
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These brass uniform buttons are from the livery of a coachman or senior household servant at an Irish "big house", perhaps Ballyseedy or Churchtown in Co.Kerry, or Riddlestown in Co.Limerick. Of the one-piece "flat" style, before brass uniform buttons became curved or domed, 30mm diameter, displaying the Blennerhassett family coat-of-arms, crest and motto. The manufacturer's name "Foley & Croker, 24 College Green, Dublin" is on the reverse. The button shows wear and the loop has broken off, indicating considerable use. Glenn Thompson of the National Museum of Ireland (Decorative Arts & History) at Collins Barracks, Dublin dates the button to c1858-68, years Foley & Croker were manufacturing buttons.
Two examples of this button are shown here. They are presently owned by different families but both these families descend from Irvine Rowland Blennerhassett of Crickhowell, Co.Breconshire, a son of Dr Edward Blennerhassett MD (b.1838 d.1874) who was one of a remarkable dynasty of Physicans from Ballymacprior in Co.Kerry. It seems likely that a full set of buttons was at some time distributed within members of one family as keepsakes or heirlooms, and have been kept by descendants. In 2009 a small number of almost identical cast brass reproductions were made by copying one of these originals.
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photo: courtesy of Geraldine Pardoe
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photo: courtesy of Geraldine Pardoe
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photo: BJ
reproduction made 2009 |
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photo: courtesy of Monina Rogers
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photo: courtesy of Monina Rogers
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NOTE: the lower of these
two buttons has at some time
been made into a brooch,
the pin later lost.
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ARMS: |
gules, a chevron ermine, between three dolphins niant embowed argent |
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CREST: |
a wolf sejant proper |
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MOTTO: |
"Fortes Fortuna Juvat"
(Fortune Favours the Bold) |
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FOLEY & CROKER
24 COLLEGE GREEN
DUBLIN
The Dublin Street Directory in "Thom's Irish Almanac and Official Directory for the Year 1862" has for 24 College Green:
"Foley and Croker, button manufacturer
and trimming warehouse,
Foley H. & Croker J." |
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 if you know of a similar button, please get in touch... |
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NOTE: A one-piece silver-plated convex button, 25mm diameter, displaying the Blennerhassett crest "a wolf sejant" and with maker's name “G. & H. Bullivant, Birmingham” on the reverse, was offered for sale on eBay in 2007. |
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