Month: May 2025

My friend Olwyn bought these buttons at The Fine Arts Museum shop in Santiago, Chile in 2015. I was pleased to receive them. They are I think a fine white canvas with the black printing of Native Symbols on them. Like many fabric covered buttons they have a tin back. They measure a little over 3 cm so are quite a nice size. I wonder what they represent although to me they appear to be a figure with a large head, arms and legs. What do you think?

This Bakelite button is large and has an oblong glass stone set in a decorative white metal escutcheon which shows up against the dark brown background. I guess it was used on an overcoat but I can’t quite remember using buttons that big. Oh for a book displaying clothes of olden days and the buttons used.

I like these black and white plastic buttons from the 1920s and 1930s. I think they may be casein. Their geometric designs are simple but effective and would be dramatic on a plain black or white garment. I have quite a few of these buttons and they look good en masse.

These three plastic buttons have been bought new over the last few years. They are all in various shades of brown and are completely different designs. Two are sew through types and one has a self shank. These buttons will be the collectables of the future.

These three plastic buttons were bought new at the Haberdashery shop a few years ago. They feature a geometric design in black and white which is always showy. They remind me of the black and white buttons of the 1920s – 30s which were plentiful. Maybe that is the history of buttons and fashion repeating itself.

This is a British Butterscotch Plastic button. On the back tiny holes from air escaping during moulding can be seen. It measures 3 cm x 2 1/2 cm. It has a handmade look about it.

This group of blue plastic buttons are probably from the 1940s or 1950s. I am not sure. They have a long shank to compensate for the deep domed shape of the button. I can see them on a blue knitted cardigan or a cotton dress with some blue in the pattern.

Here are two plastic buttons which are modern and both sew through type. One is black with terracotta coloured splodges and is quite striking. The other one is striped in many colours but in a more subtle way. They both have a black back.

I love the old chunky bakelite buttons and these two are no exception. They are both inlaid with a different colour to the black and have been carved. I guess they would be overcoat buttons and would be smart on a black or brown woollen fabric or even a tweed. They are good quality and both have a metal loop shank.

Here are two different lots of Fabric buttons; the first all being cream with stitching on fabric and crochet work etc. The second lot are shiny thread wound over a wooden mould with a contrasting coloured thread stitched over the top. I think that they are all quite old but am not sure how old. They each are time consuming to make and would have been hand made.