Month: November 2024

These three metal buttons are all Paris Backs. They are marked T. W & W Paris or A. P. & Cie Paris showing they were made in Paris. They are little picture buttons and only measure 1 1/2cm. I have nine of them mounted on a card together.

Here are three modern shell buttons depicting the same flower but in different colours. They are very thin and have been painted with the colour and then etched back to reveal the natural shell underneath. They measure 2 1/2 cm and are a two hole sew through type.

These three Mother of Pearl buttons have all been carved in varying designs. They are all four hole sew through type. They are of a reasonable size measuring between 3 cm and a little over 3 1/2cm. Their natural colours are very subtle.

Here are four Bakelite buttons all of which have been inlaid with wood or applejuice bakelite. They are rather chunky so guess that they may have been on a jacket. They have a sort of Art Deco look about them.

These two Bakelite buttons are made up of two layers; the light one on the back that shows through the top one where it has been carved away. They are a bit different being oval and are sew through type. I have a red one as well.

Here are three modern coconut shell buttons each with a different type of decoration. The first has sort of embossed flowers, the second is painted also in a floral design and the third is painted yellow with a high gloss lacquer. I have quite a few coconut shell buttons and there are many different styles of decoration. They make a nice show.

These Coconut Shell buttons are completely different to each other. The first one has a floral design painted on it, the second has a sort of geometric design and the third one has leaves etched into it. The back of them of course is the outside of the shell so is a varied shade of brown. They are modern buttons and were readily available at the haberdashery stores a few years back.

Here are three handmade wooden buttons. The top two were made by the Late Bobbie Shepheard from Ballarat. He was a retired builder and loved playing with wood. On these two he inserted old button tops to make them just a bit different. The bottom one is carved and painted Balsa wood showing an Owl’s face. It was made in 2010 by F. Rossi of USA. It is quite realistic.

I believe that these painted porcelain buttons are quite old but do not know how old. One is quite bright with two Oriental ladies with sunshades. The other shows a lady beside a table with a plant in a vase. They measure a little over 3 cm so are quite a nice size.

These porcelain buttons were made in 2007 by Tracey Sharkey from Victoria. She used to live over near Bendigo but I think she may be in Melbourne now. I originally got some of her buttons at Bendigo Art Gallery and then the Shepparton Art Gallery had some too. They are crisp and bright and I guess they are transfer printed. They would be very showy on a plain fabric garment or I think maybe they are more of a collector’s item. I have a few of her sets of buttons in my collection.