All things buttons & more …
These few black glass buttons are also new to my collection. Two have gold lustre and one silver lustre. The small one at bottom left has a copper lustre and the one on the right has a “diamond” in the centre. They were in a tin of buttons I went through a couple of weeks ago and I have cut cards for them but haven’t attached them yet. Apart from the copper lustre one which has a metal four way box shank the rest have self shanks.
For some reason these buttons did not photograph well which was disappointing as they are really bright and colourful. They are new to my collection and are toggle type buttons. I guess they may be Bakelite and maybe from the 1940s or 1950s. I wonder what type of garment they would have been used on ; they are quite chunky.
This little group of Celluloid buttons is a new acquisition to my collection. A friend offered to let me go through her sister’s button tin and I got quite a few old buttons and it is always fun to search for something interesting. The big dark one does not show to it’s best advantage as it is quite colourful in two greens in a type of swirly pattern. These buttons may be sort of common but are different to any I have.
This wooden button is new to my collection and I have not seen one like it before. It has a dog’s head painted on it in strong colours and thick paint. It has a wire loop shank and measures a little over 2 cm.
I bought these Ceramic buttons at the Opp Shop last week in a $2 jar of buttons. There were six of them. They are hand made Terracotta clay with a simple design stamped on them with a glaze over the top. They are sew through type and measure 2 1/2 cm. They would suit a homespun and knitted cardigan or a tweed jacket.
I think these clear coloured glass buttons were made during the Depression. I remember seeing similar coloured green glass plates and jugs years ago. The buttons are simple in their design but have a nice look about them.
These two metal buttons look like silver but I am not sure. They have different symbols on them and one looks a bit like part of a Totem Pole. I wonder if they are made by American Indians? They are only small measuring 1 1/2 cm. They are a bit of a mystery to me.
This Celluloid button is a little different in colour and design. It is a sort of taupe colour with a black and creamy/green waving line surrounding a central creamy/green disc In the middle is some leaves and bright pink berries ( or are they meant to be flowers ) The pink really stands out. All in all it is quite a nice button. It measures a little under 3 cm.
Here are two metal picture buttons featuring a head and some flowers. To me the head looks like an Egyptian lady but my friend thinks it is an Indian Chieftain so take your choice. It is an unusual design. They have a japanned back and metal loop shank and measure a little over 3 cm.
These four porcelain buttons are by Arita from Japan I think they are Noh masks and not Immortal Gods which are both common in button form. You would certainly not call them pretty but they are interesting. They are featured in the book “About Buttons” by Peggy Ann Osborne. I think there should be six of them. I bought these in June, 2011 at if I remember correctly a junky collectables shop in Melbourne. I do not know the history of Noh Masks but think they may have been used in a type of Opera.