Cloak pin (Knob or tieback)

Description

This brass cloak pin features a profile portrait of the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. The image is in low relief and beneath his left shoulder are letters indicating the names of the designers and die-engravers "M.&P.F." above the larger letters identifying the subject "JEFFERSON." The style of this small, useful brass hardware item is in the manner of contemporary commemorative medals featuring national heroes, such as Jefferson and George Washington or in England, Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson. The designers were engravers for the Royal Mint in London and it is likely that their iron die portraying Jefferson was transferred to Matthew Boulton's Soho manufactory for stamped production into brass curtain tie-backs, cloak pins, looking glass knobs, and small circular boxes lids for the American market. The underside of the brass sufrace has a sheet iron backing and the brass shaft terminates in a flared circular base mounted with an iron wood screw.