Page 31 - May1954

May, 19 5 4 NATIONAL BUTTON BULLETIN 22r

IS IT A PORTRAIT OF NICHOLAS HILLYAR.DE?
Several -vears ago n'Irs. Zula Fricks brousht
f i'om England several black glass buttons
similar to the button illustrated here (No. 1).
The name under which they were purchased
'lvas Sir Walter Raleigh.
In the spring of 1952 we noted an
announcement in British Buttons (an English
trade journal) that an English Glass Company
was marketing "a new design in ornamental
glass buttons in the form of a bas-relief of
Sir Francis Drake." Later buttons similar
to No. 1 illustration appeared in America
under that name.
Over a period of two years we have seen
this same button ofrered for sale under three
different names-Sir Walter Raleigh; Sir
Francis Drake and also William Shakespeare.
Last year Mrs. Lytle Packard received
a similar button from England labeled "Sir
Walter Raleigh." Since on two occasions the
button was marked thus when it came from
England, we published the picture in January
1954, p. 50, No. 8.
Nleanwhile, Editor Ethel McPhail became
interested in coronation items, specializing in
(Nliniature slightly England's Queens. While examining the book,
reduced in size) Elizabethan Miniatures by Carl Winter,
Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, Mrs. McPhail came upon
a beautiful miniature in color, resembling the button in nearly everl' detail.
It was the self portrait of Nicholas Hillyarde, court painter to both Queen
Elizabeth and King James. The miniature, (No.2) which is now in the
Yictoria and Albert Museum, is l and 19/32 inches in diameter. It bears
the inscription "Ano. Drn. 1577 AEtatis suae 30." and a signature which the
aforementioned book describes as "the cursive mono€iram of Nicholas
Hillyarde." The translation is, "In the year of our Lord. ACe 80.,,
Nicholas Hillyarde 'rvas born about 1547 and died in 1619. He had
a long and illustrious career, bringing renown to himself in his own age
at home and abroad. In 1600, he composed "A Treatise on the Art of
Limning" as a guide for his own pupils and for others. His decorative
original portraits of Queen Elizabeth are exquisitely delineated.
The button, 7 and 7/+ inches in diameter, has the portrait nolded in
relief on the depressed face; it has a higher rim. Both the button and the
book are in the McPhail collection.
Since Sir Francis Drake (1540-1596), Nicholas Hillyarde (1b4?-1619),
Sir Walter Raleigh (1552-1618) and William Shakespeare (1b64-1616) all
Iived during the same period, and since the style of costumes and hair
dressing were so similar, it is easy to understand how there may be con-
fusion in tryirg to identify portrait buttons such as these.
L.S.A.

NE1V N.B.S. BUTTON
Wherever collectors met these days the one thing the_v discuss is our
lre'w N.B.S. button. tr'rom the many comments you can draw but one
goaslusiel-ever)rone seems to be pleased with it and proud to rilear it.
Have your ordered yours? See the advertisement on D. 192.