GLASS PAPERWEIGHT BUTTON

This glass paperweight button is really bright combining oranges, green and cream in a patchy fashion. The back is all green and features a brass loop shank. I only have two or three other paperweight buttons in my collection and this one is a new addition.

MODERN BUTTONS

These three modern plastic buttons are flower shaped and are white. The curved lines in the centre are clear so show the black background through. My friend Jackie gave them to me recently. They are simple in design yet effective.

METAL PICTURE BUTTONS

These two metal picture buttons are a bronze colour and feature an Egyptian head on the right side with a floral pattern making up the rest of the space. They have a japanned back with a metal loop shank and measure 3 1/4 cm.

METAL BUTTON

Although a lot of paint has worn off, this button still has a certain charm. It is of pressed brass in an ornate design with black, teal and pink painted features. It certainly would have been striking in it’s original condition. It has a tin back and metal loop shank and measures 3 cm.

BLACK GLASS BUTTON

This is a very unusual black glass button. The band of silver lustre across the middle features a mass of “creepy crawlies” etc. e.g. scorpions, lizards, turtles and the likes. At first look you do not notice them. It measures 2 1/2 cm and is a sew through type.

PERSPEX BUTTONS

I have quite a few of these type of perspex buttons but these three are new to my collection. They were made in the late 1940’s and 1950’s. Perspex was plentiful then from aeroplane windscreens just after the war. Many have metal centrepieces of various types similar to these.

PLASTIC BUTTONS

Here are two buttons combining wound cord inserted in a plastic base. Maybe they were worn on what we used to call a shorty coat! They are just two different colours in the same design.

VEGETABLE IVORY BUTTONS

Here is just a group of various vegetable ivory buttons of which I have quite a few. These are common everyday type and are made from the Tagua nut of a palm tree that grows in tropical forests of Colombia, Equador and Peru. The inside of the nut is similar colour to that of ivory hence the name. It can be dyed and carved.

ENAMEL BUTTONS

Here we have two modern enamelled white metal buttons. They both have a flower pattern, one with a brilliant blue background and the other red. I think they may have been made in Japan or China. They are new additions to my collection.

PLASTIC BUTTONS

These three plastic buttons are very chunky and not what you would call pretty. They just took my fancy because of the colours and also they are very different. I think they would be coat buttons.