Japanese Family Crests (Mon)

Japanese Family Crests (Mon)
Three
Flowers *
Squares
Fans
Wisteria
Ginkgo Leaves
Water Plantain
Cranes
**
Paper
Mulberry
***
Japanese
Irises
Dragon
Buttons are boxed. All are black glass. The ginkgo and 3-flower buttons don’t exactly match any crest,
but appear to have been inspired by them. They may match unpublished variants.
Crests from Japanese Design Motifs. Compiled by Maggie Whitson for the National Button Society, 2011.
*
Several crests use this arrangement, though flower type varies.
** Similar designs are seen with other birds.
*** Imitating the imperial Paulownia crest. Many crests do this, ex. balloon flower, wood sorrel.
References:
Fumie Adachi. 1972. Japanese Design Motifs. Dover Publications, Inc., Mineola, NY.
John Dower. 1998. The Elements of Japanese Design. Weatherhill, Inc., NY, NY.