All things buttons & more …
Here is a button made of metal and a mother of pearl inner disc. It is topped off with a realistic metal Pharoah’s head. There was a certain period when the Egyptian influence was very popular and this is one such button. It has a brass back and loop shank and measures a little over 2 1/2 cm.
I think I have shown these buttons before but they were my best Opp Shop finds just a few years ago. They were very black and tied together in a small bottle of buttons. Until I got them out of the bottle I was not even sure they were buttons. Imagine my delight; buttons 20 cents each therefore one dollar for the lot. I quickly bought them and walked out of the shop I’m sure with a smile on my face. They look like silver but are not stamped and have some gold trim in areas then have the enamel panel depicting a bird. I think they must be fairly old and maybe Oriental. They sure were a great find. I have just got them out while I do this post and they have tarnished again but not too badly.
This Studio button was handmade by Theresa Rarig from USA. It is Lampwork Glass and is very colourful. It is signed in gold on the front. I do not know how old it is but I have had it for quite some years now. It measures a little over 3 cm so is a nice size.
I bought these two La Mode button cards in 2017. They were made by Blumenthal Lansing Co. of Iowa and are described on the back as The Fashion Choice for more than 125 years. They were made in Italy. The flowers on the left are marked antique silver while the other pair are marked antique gold. The gold ones are a very interesting design which does not show up so well in the photo. It doesn’t say so but maybe they are reproductions of old buttons. They are good quality buttons.
Here is a group of Gay Nineties with various coloured stones and mainly made of brass. Some are much more ornate than the others especially those with the purple stones. They are all quite large.
I do like Austrian Tinies and have just recently acquired several new ones which are still sitting in the little tray where I put them!! I think they are amazing with the different materials used and the intricate designs in such a small button. They certainly would be difficult to do up and that is where a button hook would be a useful tool. I enjoy looking at this display in a brown velvet frame with a gold insert.
I think I bought these two enamelled buttons together because they were so different to a lot of my others. They both are unusual colours, are pierced and have cut steel trim so have similarities in their design. The orange one with the pink rose on a white ground is so different and the red one with some blue has white flowers and not pink roses which are very common. So all in all they are interesting buttons.
Here is a European set of Peasant Jacket buttons coinlike of the Thaler which was originally struck in Austria from 1740 – 1780. It is the reverse of the coin which is shown on the button which depicts a combined Coat of Arms of Imperial Austria. Printed around the edge is ARCHID – AVST DUX BURG CO TYR 1780 X which in full is ARCHIDUX AUSTRIAE DUX BURGANDIAE COMES TYROLIS. This is the grand title of Maria Theresa which translates as : Archduchess of Austria, Duchess of Burgundy, Countess of Tyrol. In the set are four large buttons; two being linked together and four small buttons. They are blank on the back and have a looped shank.
This button I have in my drawer that I call two materials or more. This one is black plastic (or maybe it is Bakelite ; it is rather chunky) The middle is metalized plastic and shows a rose which is a very common design. I have several buttons with just the rose in gold or silver. This particular button measures 3 cm and has a metal loop shank. I think it may be from the 1930s.
Here is a group of six Celluloid buttons; all two hole sew through type. I like their colours and simple designs; some with stripes and a sort of check and some risen up areas so they are not completely flat. I have them on a stitched banner with other Celluloids and they make quite a nice display.