Collection of buttons by Gordon Andrews
Object No. 94/114/1
Collection of buttons (16), metal, designed and made by Gordon Andrews, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1945-1949
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Summary
Physical Description
3 x square, concave shaped button in silver sheet with central cross motif in applied copper wire, signed 'Andrews'. Plus one unsigned square, concave shaped button in silver sheet with central cross motif in applied copper wire (attributed to Gordon Andrews by D. Broughton, despite variations from the three signed buttons). 3 x button of conical spiral form, in copper wire. 3 x flat, spiral shaped button in copper. 4 x rectangular, concave shaped button in copper with a strip of wire centrally applied. 1 x square shaped button in copper sheet, the obverse surface with engraved image of a sailing ship on water. 1 x button in copper sheet, circular shaped with domical centre.
DIMENSIONS
Height
12 mm
Width
32 mm
Depth
32 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Gordon Andrews began making buttons while convalescing after a serious illness in the 1940s. Andrews recalls he got the idea from fashion artist Beryl Hartland, who complained about the lack of well designed buttons on the local market. Andrews began by hammering out pennies but then extended in metal sheet and wire. According to Andrews it became such a profitable exercise that by the late 1940s it looked as if he might become 'the button king' of Sydney.
HISTORY
Notes
Marion Hall Best was one of Australia's most daring and inventive interior designers, her career spanning the years 1938-1974. Marion's daughter Deirdre Broughton, the donor, thinks that the buttons were originally acquired for sale through one of her mother's shops. These buttons were subsequently used by both Marion and Deirdre on various items of clothing. Un unsourcd newspaper cutting titled 'Artist's Buttons' of 13 March 1948 notes: 'No cutting dies or devices such as gilding are used. Each is hand wrought, and Mr Andrews spends up to two or three hours fashioning a set of four buttons.' 'Each button has it's own name. Among them are 'Beehive', a copper and silver spiral button; 'Crusader', silver with a copper cross in the centre; and 'Birdeye' spiralled copper with a tiny pewter point or eye.'
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs Deirdre Broughton, 1994
Acquisition Date
17 May 1994
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