Mikado Buttons Information
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Page from 1886 Spring edition of Ridley's Fashion Magazine
Looks like a manufacturer's card of the period but can't be sure
Top right set attributed "The Mikado". The literature names this button "Katisha"
Button on the left below is either the same button on 1896 Card or a second generation.
The button on the right was a hand retooling to the same or similar sketch.
Large quantities of these buttons exist meaning that many generations of dies were cut (by hand) resulting in slight differences to the same basic design. The celluloid background on the right button puts it in the period of interest.
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The tool and die maker who engraved the figures for the following two buttons clearly used a very similar sketch for the work (fans, hands to face, posture, platform). Therefore, the right button was likely inspired by the "Three Little Maids".
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I am persuaded that the figures on the following two buttons were inspired by the Mikado character. The button on the left is silvered brass of the period. The headpiece is Mikado-like and the faces do not look oriental. They both look like the image was taken from a photograph. The left image could be Federici or a later character.
Oriental Scene
Description of Scene on Brass Button from late 1800s
A main character in what appears to be a peasant hat holding a fan and two poles(???).
A woman shielding the main character with an umbrella.
Two supplicants who appear to be peasants.