All things buttons & more …
Here is a handmade ceramic button which to me is quite unique. I love the textured surface and the brown tint shows up the pattern, It reminds me of an owl with it’s natural colours, feather like pattern and “eyes.” It is very large at 5 cm.
This group of silver buttons was a lucky find for me at an opp shop earlier this year. They were very dirty and I spent some time cleaning them but was pleased with the result. The theme is Oriental and shows a lady playing a musical instrument and a dragon like creature at the top. A bird is featured on the enamelled rectangle. I do not know their age but guess it may be early 1900s; anyway a good find.
Here is a set of plastic cameo button covers which are rather nicely made. They are made to slide down over a plain existing button and snapped fast. This dresses up an otherwise plain garment by just changing the buttons. You can see in the photo how they slide down and snap together; a rather clever contraption. I think they were especially popular during the 1980s.
Here are two rather nice Bakelite buttons which have been carved in definite patterns. They are both quite chunky and maybe would have been coat buttons. They measure a little over 2 1/2cm and have a brass loop shank.
Here is a lovely metal picture button named “Woodland Vows” It shows a couple carving their initials in a tree in brass. The border has been tinted purple and contrasts nicely. It has a japanned back and metal loop shank.
Here is a Gay Nineties button of brass with a purple glass stone. As the name suggests it is from the 1890s. The embossing on the inner circle is very decorative as is the border. I notice in the photo that it has had purple paint applied originally which is not so obvious to the naked eye. It measures a little under 4 cm.
This Celluloid button was made by Marion Weeber from USA in the 1940s. It is the only one of her buttons I have and I love it. The colours are great and the fruit quite realistic. It has a celluloid shank and measures a little over 3 cm.
This Cut Steel button is rather large at 3 1/2cm. The cut steels are rivetted into the brass individually. They are made from old horseshoe nails and when they catch the light resemble diamonds as they are facetted. I can imagine them twinkling by candlelight in their day.
This group of laminated bakelite buttons are very colourful and in an Art Deco style. Two of them combine bakelite and wood. They are rather chunky and very striking in my eye.
This trio of shell buttons are quite striking. Two show a bird while the other one depicts leaves. They have been painted with a black gloss on the front which has then been etched back in the design to reveal the shell underneath. They are modern.