A Study on the Symbolism of Buttns of 18.19 Century

18.19세기 단추의 상징성에 관한 연구

The button is a part of costume. But it has the symbolism of costume in itself and reflects the sociocultural phenomena. The purpose of this study is to clarify symbolism of button of eighteenth and nineteenth century which had been most popular. This study is based on the library research. Through this paper, I reached conclusions as follows. The symbolism of button is found in various ways. First, Aesthetics is found in material, color, design and type etc. of button. Especially Indian silver button of abstract type shows well distinctive aesthetics of Indians. Second, The material and the number of button vary with one's status and show off one's privilege. I England, there was the rule, in which the symbol of the King was a silver button with a figure of lion. The livery button represents his family to the nble and shows the meaning of obedience to the servant. Third, The button on uniform varies with ranks. This is prominent in a uniform of a soldier or a policeman. Fourth Material and craft of button show one's economic position. The button gives a Very good picture of what one's life was then. Precious button with gold, silver, and other jewels is an index to one's property. Fifth, The button of political event is used for election, which shows the face and the name of runner. Besides that, there were buttons designed for the flag or the slogan for political event. Sixth, The button of social event reflects a social phase of life in war or revolution, for example, it satirizes the burning of the Bastille in the French Revolution, or the taxpayer bearing the burden. Seventh, the buttons that symbolize a historic event are made to commemorante an epochal and critical occurrence or an important person's birth, death, visit to some place, etc., Eighth, there were well-known persons, for example, a president, a king, a queen, a singer, or an artist in the buton of personality. Nineth, The button of one's company shows one's community in figures or pictures, that is, this button is used as a symbol one's community. Tenth, The button varies with the development of science and technology. It gives a very good picture of what it was and what the technological level was. Eleventh, The buttons that symmbolize on occupation most impressively are uniform buttons. Symbolic marks related with a particular occupation are carved on the buttons of compary employees' uniforms. Twelfth, Various natural phenomena are designed to appear on buttons, Some express themselves simply as they are, and others appear as a symbolic form such as environmental relationship between men and nature, four seasons, a constellation and all other natural things occurring during a year. Finally, The button of rebus is a motto expressed by a combination with objects figures, letters, words, or phrases.