This very plain button is made from “Mermaid Leather” which is in fact Fish skin.
The leather is produced in Esperance, Western Australia. It has a brass back and shank.
MERMAID LEATHER BUTTON
METAL BUTTON
I have always liked this button. The straight lines contrast nicely with the two bands across with a scrolly pattern.
To me it looks a quality button. The front has a copper gilding ( or maybe it is actually copper, I am no expert!! ) while the back is brass with a loop shank. It is just under 2 cm in diameter.
METAL BUTTONS
I like the look of these three buttons, especially the oval one with the red and cream paint.
Their geometric designs are very eye catching. Two have shanks incorporated in the metal back while one is a sew through. This particular button I have plain with no paint and it looks no where near as striking. Button designs are amazing.
GLASS BUTTONS
GRANT FEATHERSTON : 1946 – 1995
From around 1946 – 1954, Grant Featherston from Australia designed buttons.
They were made from clear glass which was sometimes painted on the back so the colour could show through. They had a silver or gold lustre incorporated in their design.
The backplates & shank was glued onto the back. Originally this was not engraved but were later marked DARIAN G.F.D. The G.F.D. denoted Grant Featherston Designs. The buttons are rather chunky and are quite stylish as you can see. I have shown the painted backs as well as the backmark.
MOTHER OF PEARL AND METAL
Being of medium size, this button is interesting with a metal escutcheon attached appearing to be Chinese lettering.
It is just a bit different and would be nice to know what it represents.
METAL BUTTONS – HEADS
All of these buttons feature a head of some type.
They are all small being under 1 1/2cm in diameter and are mostly brass. One has a white metal head which is very finely detailed. I think some are from Roman or Greek Mythology. One is an Oriental lady and there is also a Harlequin.
AUSTRIAN TINIES BUTTONS
Austrian Tinies are very small metal buttons with other materials like velvet, celluloid and pearl used in their design. They are always under 1 cm in diameter. The back is domed and japanned (layers of black paint) and has a metal loop shank.
As the name suggests they were mainly made in Austria.
To have so much detail in such a small button is wonderful. Lots of them have tinted metal and have several layers in their making. They were made in the late 19th and early 20th Century.
BLACK GLASS BUTTONS
Black glass buttons have been made for many years, especially in the first part of the 20th Century. There must have been thousands of different designs made.
Firstly we see a black glass buckle and some buttons, then two groups of black glass buttons with a gold lustre.
To me they always look smart.
SMALL METAL BUTTONS
Here are some more new additions to my collection.
Actually I bought a small private button collection in November, 2017 so have been having fun sorting and cleaning buttons. What a good hot weather occupation keeping indoors with the cooler!
These are all small metal buttons each with a different design. None are over 1 1/2cm in diameter.
PLASTIC & METAL BUTTON
I guess that this button is also from the late 1940’s or 1950’s period.
It has a combination of plastic, brass and as well clear perspex. The brass section has some piercing. A brass pin shank is attached and you can see the top of it in the middle of the perspex. The head is in the shape of a little flower.