Month: July 2019

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These two buttons are from the early 1900’s and are of black glass with painting imitating fabrics of the day e.g. silk and taffeta. They have a self shank and measure 2 1/2 cm.

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Cut steel buttons are quite striking with their “diamond like” cut steels rivetted separately into the metal. This button has some nice filigree work between the border and central steel. The cut steels were made from old horseshoe nails which is interesting in itself.

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Here is a glass button from The Victorian period. It is a type of pearlized glass (the front is matte finish) with very delicate paintwork which is a little worn. It has a metal shank and measures 2 3/4 cm.

I do like buttons featuring heads and this one is no exception. The lovely flowing lines are typical of the Art Nouveau period. The design is well balanced in the space and pleasing to the eye. It measures 1 3/4 cm.

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I am very fond of Japanese porcelain and especially Satsuma items. This is a delightful Satsuma button featuring three Geisha Girls. The gold paintwork is very fine. It measures 2 cm.

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Realistic buttons can be made of any material but are in the shape of a real subject be it flower, animal etc. Here are two fun realistic children’s buttons. They are both plastic and the duck is from the 1930’s – 40’s. I believe the penguin is more modern. They are both rather quaint and new to my collection.

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Fabric buttons is a general term to cover all buttons made from fabric, thread, braid, beads, crochet etc. I think these buttons are from the early 1900’s. They are fine thread and braid wound over a button mould (probably wooden) in a diamond like pattern. They have no shank as such and you just catch a few threads at the back to sew them onto the garment. They measure a little under 1 1/2 cm.

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Here are three Lithograph Men’s Waistcoat buttons from the 1890’s – 1900’s. I think they would have originally been part of a boxed set of six buttons as was a popular gift back in those days. They were attached by a special metal slip pin and not sewn on.

Here is a Brass Picture button featuring a Japanese lady playing a concertina. The detail is wonderful and overall is really a nice button. It measures a little over 2 1/2cm.

Here are three moulded tortoiseshell glass buttons. They are domed and have two broken lines of gold lustre across them. When you hold them up to the light they are a lovely bright amber colour. They have a self shank and measure 2 cm.