A set of six exceptional buttons by Raoul Diaz Wagner

Price: Reserved

A simply fabulous set of large art nouveau buttons in their original box.  The buttons are made of dyed horn each representing cherries (maybe peaches) hanging from a branch.  Five of the six buttons have metal rims.

The box is marked for R D Wagner et Cie.  Raoul Diaz Wagner is a little known jeweller of the art nouveau period. Born in Buenos-Aires, Argentina, he established a jewellers in Paris c 1900 and was a member of ‘La Société des Artistes Français’, he was commended for his exhibits at the Paris salon of 1903, readily adopting the Art Nouveau genre. His jewels were characterised by the use of pliqué-à-jour enamel and organic motifs. Source: Sothebys

The buttons are in excellent condition, in their original box with clips.

Kate Harris was employed by the London studio of William Hutton & Sons to produce artistic silver from 1899 to c 1905.  Harris was one of the very few women, or British exhibitors, to win recognition at the 1900 Paris International Exhibition.

For more information on Kate Harris, see Professor Stephen Pudney’s articles on her in the Decorative Arts Society Journal Vol 22 “A marriage of art and commerce: Kate Harris and the arts and crafts silverware of William Hutton & Sons” and Vol 39 “Katie Harris: Mystery Woman of English Art Nouveau”.

Maker: Raoul Diaz Wagner (presumed)

Designer:  Raoul Diaz Wagner (presumed)

Date: c. 1903

Marks: Box marked for R(aoul) D(iaz) Wagner & Cie

Material: Dyed horn

Condition: Excellent – one metal ring missing

Size: 4.0 cm diameter

Weight: NM