Carved Shell & Pearl
271 piecesVictorian carved shell buttons, popular from the mid-to-late 19th century, were crafted from mother-of-pearl, oyster, and freshwater mussel shells, often featuring intricate and delicate engravings.
Victorian Carved Shell Pearl Buttons
Victorian carved shell buttons, popular from the mid-to-late 19th century, were crafted from mother-of-pearl, oyster, and freshwater mussel shells, often featuring intricate and delicate engravings. They symbolized wealth, refinement, and sentimental fashion. Major manufacturing hubs in England and the United States — most notably Muscatine, Iowa — produced millions of these buttons before they were eventually replaced by synthetic plastics. Also known as “pearl buttons,” these were made from the iridescent shells. Early Victorian buttons were handmade, but by around 1850, machine-cut production became widespread. Skilled artisans in centers such as Birmingham, and later in the United States, carved, polished, dyed, and sometimes inlaid the shells to create decorative effects. Shell buttons were regarded as indicators of status and wealth.
Victorian Carved Tinted Shell Button with Tourmaline Center Set in Sterling silver Ring Size 8
Victorian Carved Tinted Shell Button with Tourmaline Center Set in Sterling silver Ring Size 7.5
Victorian Carved Tinted Shell Button with Tourmaline Center Set in Sterling silver Ring Size 8
Victorian Carved Tinted Shell Button with Tourmaline Center Set in Sterling silver Ring Size 8
Victorian Carved Tinted Shell Button with Tourmaline Center Set in Sterling silver Ring Size 8.5
Victorian Carved Tinted Shell Button with Topaz Center Set in Sterling silver Ring Size 8.5
Victorian Carved Tinted Shell Button with Tourmaline Center Set in Sterling silver Ring Size 8
Victorian Carved Shell Button w/ Pink tourmaline set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 7.5
Victorian Three Button Drop Ornate carved shell & Pearls set in Sterling Silver w/ Stone Rosary Accent
Victorian Three Button Drop Carved Tinted Shell and Pearl w/ Steel set in Sterling Silver w/ Stone Rosary Accent
Victorian Three Button Drop Carved Tinted Shell and Pearl w/ Steel set in Sterling Silver w/ Stone Rosary Accent
Victorian Carved Tinted Shell Button with Green Tourmaline stone Center set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 7.5
Victorian Carved Tinted Shell Button with Green Tourmaline stone Center set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 7.5
Victorian Carved Moon Shell Button set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 7.5
Victorian Carved Cowry Shell Village Scene set in Steel Button set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 7.5
Victorian Carved Shell Button with Topaz Center set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 8
Victorian Carved Shell Tinted Button with Iolite Center set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 8
Victorian Carved Shell W/ Pearl Center Button set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 8.5
Victorian Carved Shell W/ Pearl Center Button set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 8.5
Victorian Carved Shell W/ Tourmaline Center Button set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 8.5
Victorian Carved Shell W/ Tourmaline Center Button set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 8.5
Victorian Carved Shell W/ Tourmaline Center Button set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 8.5
Victorian Carved Shell Grapes w/ Steel Facet Accent W/ Iolite Center Button set in Sterling Silver Ring Size 8.5
