All things buttons & more …
Here are two modern coconut shell buttons which have been painted in an abstract way. You can see the flaws in the shell which makes them really natural. There are still coconut shell buttons in the shops currently so many have been made over the years. They have been natural, painted, etched and various methods used to make them different.
Here are two Victorian Celluloid buttons which I like. The one on the right has very delicate filigree work in a floral design atop a fawn background. The other one has a circle of glass stones in the centre surrounded by a black/cream background with a rather nice border. They are quite a nice size at 3 cm.
I think these two buttons are quite old having a thread back. The fabric is a type of brocade in purple, burgundy, red and fawn colours and looks quite rich. I like them. They measure a little over 1 1/2 cm.
Here are three fairly basic celluloid buttons with multicoloured designs. They are all sew through type and measure a little under 2 cm. I have them mounted on a fabric banner with other similar buttons in Autumn tonings. They make quite a nice display.
These glass buttons were designed and made by Grant Featherston ( from Melbourne ) with his wife Claire in the late 1940s. They have a brass backplate marked DARIAN and G.F.D standing for Grant Featherston Design. Sometimes the backplate was stuck on off centre which to me seems careless. The buttons themselves are quite striking with their gold or silver lustre.
Here are two black glass buttons both with a self shank. They both have a silver lustre and the one on the right is a more modern design. They are not easy to photograph so often don’t show up very well. They both measure a little over 2 cm. I like black glass buttons and have quite a nice collection of them.
This boxed set of seven buttons are of the Seven Immortal Gods of Japan. They may not be pretty but have a lot of character. Funnily enough there is only one female amongst them. They were probably made for the tourist trade as they would not really be suitable as functional buttons.
This is one of my favourite celluloid buttons. It is a Marion Weeber from USA creation from the 1940s. It is quite realistic and the subtle colours are just great and is the only one of her buttons that I have in my collection. At 3 1/2 cm in diameter it is quite a nice size.
These three buttons are Satsuma enamel buttons from Japan. They were given to me in 2014 but were bought in the town of Satsuma in 1974 in Japan by the donor. They are the most beautiful blue and have a bamboo design in gold. I have them mounted on authentic obi fabric in a gold frame and they make a nice display. They measure 2 cm.
These modern metal buttons were bought at a local opp shop several years ago. They are rather unusual being concave with odd shaped holes on one side only, the rest being solid. They are sew through type.