GAY NINETIES BUTTON

I keep this button with my Gay Nineties buttons; whether that is the correct catagory I am not sure. To me it sort of looks regal with the silver and various coloured stones. It is actually white metal and has quite a nice decorative embossed border. It is backmarked GESETZLICH which from the German translates to protected, as like a patent. It has a brass loop shank and measures a little under 4 cm so is rather large.

BAKELITE BUTTON

Here is a Bakelite button which is square and has a brass cross in the middle. The Bakelite is simply carved and set into brass. The back is nearly more interesting than the front having a floral design embossed onto the brass. It has a metal loop shank.

METAL BUTTON

This metal button has been dyed purple and has a rather large decorative white metal escutcheon under which a pinkish mirror back is placed. It looks sort of regal. It has a japanned back and metal loop shank and measures 3 1/2 cm.

FABRIC BUTTONS

These two fabric buttons are of similar style and made up the same way with a metal back and pad shank. The blue one has a metal disc with an embossed floral design in the centre. The red one has white lace covering the centre. They would both be made with the same fabric as the garment they were to be worn on. I guess they may be from the 1940s, perhaps a long sleeve winter dress.

PLASTIC BUTTONS

Here are two red and white plastic buttons from maybe the 1930s. I think they could be Casien. Like black and white buttons these too stand out. The one on the left measures 2 1/2 cm and is a two hole sew through while the right one measures just over 2 cm and has four holes.

PLASTIC BUTTONS

These two plastic buttons are by Artid an English firm I think in the 1940s. They are not favourites of mine so I only have these two. One depicts a Galleon ship while the other shows a Siamese dancer. They were mainly in two colours only.

SATSUMA BUTTON

This Satsuma porcelain button is quite different to any other I have. It does not have much detail but I loved the colours against the gold background. I love purple, green and orange. The gold lines don’t show up very well in the photo. It measures 2 1/2 cm.

PLASTIC BUTTONS

Here are three groups of plastic buttons from say the 1940s or are they 1950s. They are all very common designs from that time and were made in a varied range of colours. The colours are not as gaudy as those of today. Were they made by Beutron? I wish I knew the answers to all these questions.

FUN BUTTONS

Here are some fun Ceramic buttons made in South Africa by local village ladies. It is a great occupation for them and brings in much needed money. There is a set of six chooks and they are really cute and well made. The corrugated cardboard is the usual backing on which they market their buttons. I have quite a few sets of their buttons as I find them interesting and it is a great organization.

PLASTIC BUTTONS

I rather like these three chunky plastic buttons as they are very smooth and tactile. Each has been carved, one having colour added. I believe that they could be Bakelite but am only guessing. They each have a metal loop shank.