Author: admin

This is a typical bunch of buttons etc. as an opp shop find. This one was a few years ago; the opp shops don’t seem to have buttons these days. Over the years I have got lots of buttons from the Opp shops and unless they are really special I keep them in boxes and label them as such with a year’s date. They are the collectables of the future.

I was quite surprised when Joyce my friend bought this denim jacket for me at an opp shop. It is Lois brand and made in Australia and my name is Lois so to me it was quite funny. It is wool lined and probably would be quite warm but is not my size. I didn’t know such a brand existed.

Here are a few old black plastic buttons and a buckle of the same period. The buckle has a nice floral pattern pressed into it and would enhance a belted dress nicely. They are from about the 1940s.

Here are three red plastic modern buttons which may be acrylic. They are realistic in the form of a flower; is it meant to be a rose? They would need to go on a plain fabric I think as they would be a bit over the top on a patterned one.

I really like this ivory button and it is the most expensive one in my collection. It has a Geisha girl with a sunshade etched into it. There are just a few delicate touches of colour highlighting it. It measures a little under 3 1/2 cm.

This button is typical of the Gay Nineties ie: the 1890s. It is a brass button with an interesting border with a pretty purple glass stone in the centre surrounded by another border with delicate embossing on it. I hadn’t noticed until looking close at the photo that there has been purple paint applied to the inner border which has all but worn away. Overall it is a nice button and measures nearly 4 cm.

My friend Olwyn bought these buttons at The Fine Arts Museum shop in Santiago, Chile in November, 2015. They feature Native Symbols. They seem to be a light canvas covering a metal button mould. The symbol is printed on in solid black. They measure a little over 3 cm.

This glass button was made in Czechoslovakia and is possibly a reproduction of an old design. It is a lovely lime green/yellow iridescent colour and is quite pretty with a picture of a tulip on it. It has a silvered back and metal loop shank and measures a little over 3 cm.

I bought these shell buttons on a garment at the local opp shop several years ago. They are etched with a simple geometric design on the outside of the shell. They are quite crudely done and have a rustic look about them while being rather unique.

This is quite a domed Mother of Pearl button which has been etched with a bird and some flowers. It has an unusual shank on the back for attaching it. I have had it for about 20 years and it was given to me by a resident of the village where I live. I think it is fairly old but don’t know how old.