“Ashley” Antique Pharaoh Button Pendant

A Moment in Time

Nearly two hundred years ago, this button fastened the uniform of a curator standing at the threshold of something entirely new. In 1827, as the Louvre opened its Egyptian artefacts rooms to the public for the very first time, France revealed a fascination that would shape art, design and imagination for generations. To be holding something that witnessed that moment feels quietly astonishing.

The Button

At its centre sits the serene face of an Egyptian Pharaoh, rendered in sculptural relief. The figure rises proudly from the surface, three dimensional and commanding, designed to be seen, not merely noticed. There is depth here, both visually and historically, a presence that feels as powerful now as it must have felt then.

Its Past Life

This button was worn as part of a curator’s uniform during the opening of the Louvre’s Egyptian artefacts rooms, an event that marked France’s formal embrace of ancient Egypt. The early 19th century was a time of intense Egyptomania, sparked by Napoleon’s campaigns and the scholarly work that followed. For visitors of the time, these rooms would have felt exotic, mysterious and utterly transporting. This button belonged to that moment, quietly gleaming amidst the excitement.

Though it depicts an ancient Egyptian ruler, it remains unmistakably French. A French antique shaped by France’s curiosity, scholarship and reverence for history, bridging cultures through craftsmanship.

Restored by Hand

Time had not been kind. When I found this button, it was almost black with centuries of tarnish. Hours of gentle, patient polishing slowly revealed its satin silver finish beneath, allowing the Pharaoh’s features to emerge once more. The result is soft rather than shiny, dignified rather than loud, exactly as something of this age should be.

Reimagined

I have set the button into a solid sterling silver mount, designed to honour its age while allowing it to live confidently in the present. An oval sterling silver carabiner clip has been added, making it effortless to attach to your favourite chains, beads or pearls.

To wear this piece is to carry forward a story that began almost two centuries ago, one rooted in curiosity, discovery and a deep love of history.

Button Origin
Curator’s uniform button from the opening of the Egyptian artefacts rooms, Louvre Museum, 1827

Materials
Brass with silver plating, solid sterling silver setting and carabiner

Available Colours
Soft silver satin

Handcrafted in
My French workshop