All things buttons & more …
Here is a metal button, the centre being painted brass. It is embossed with a flower and ribbon design which is quite unique. I have no other buttons anything like it. There are a couple of scratches on the paintwork but it is otherwise in good order. It has a metal loop shank and measures 3 cm.
Here are three Lithograph Men’s Waistcoat buttons featuring ladies in large hats. They are probably part of a set of six which was common in the late 1890s – 1900s. They are set in a gold cup with loop shank. I think that it is a strange subject for men’s clothing.
This is a modern enamelled brass button which to me is very striking. It is domed and shows an orange/red flower which is complimented with lovely blues, greens and yellows making it very colourful. I think it is hollow and it has a small hole on each side. I guess it may have been made in Japan.
Here is a Porcelain button with the portrait of Beatrix Potter ( 1866-1943 ) an English children’s book author and illustrator of the time. The other two buttons are plastic and feature two characters from her well known and loved books from all over the world. She led a lonely life and loved all her pet animals which inspired her to create the characters in her books.
This Ivory button is one of my favourites. It has a scrimshaw picture of a Geisha girl with a sunshade finely done in black. There is just a small touch of orange and blue which is very tastefully done. It has a self shank and measures just under 3 1/2 cm.
Here are two enamelled brass buttons both with a floral theme on a white background. One has lovely royal blue enamelling broken up by gold embossing. The other one has a scalloped edge. These type of buttons are fairly common.
This is a Japanese Lacquer Box Inro with Netsuke from the Showa period. It has one compartment only. The Netsuke at the top is a carved dragon and the ojime is a brightly coloured wooden bead. These pouches were used to carry money, tobacco or medicine. I bought this at an Antique Centre in Camberwell in 2015 and was thrilled to get it.
Here are three modern coconut shell buttons with cold enamel in lovely bright colours and the same floral design. You can tell they are hand done as they are not identical. I have bought them at a Haberdashery shop and they make a nice set. I have just learned how to put three photos in a row on my computer so I am pleased with myself ! It is good when you can learn something new.
These two glass buttons are colourful and cheery and I like them. They were handmade by Di Bloomfield from Victoria. They have a plastic shank glued to the back of them and measure 2 cm.
This is a reproduction white metal button made in Italy under La Mode brand. It was made for Blumenthal Lansing Company of USA copying a button from the 1900-1910 period. I bought a series of these reproduction buttons on their original cards at a craft shop in Bendigo in 2010.