Category: Uncategorized

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.

I love this button as it is in a worn old way and can imagine how it looked when new. I think it is fairly old and the fabric with the pink flower is faded and worn. It is set in brass with white painted leaf like shapes which make it interesting. If only it could talk! It measures a little over 2 cm.

Both of these Celluloid buttons are a tinted shade of grey and have brass embellishments. One has a sort of rope pattern with a brass square embossed with a flower in the centre. The other one has nine tiny brass squares with star like patterns. They measure a little under 3 cm.

Here are three Buffed Celluloid buttons depicting leaves and flowers. The flower ones are identical designs just in different colours. The pattern is incised into the button, rubbed over with paint and then buffed back to leave the colour only in the indentations. They are quite a nice size at a little over 2 1/2 cm and have a self shank.

Here are three Porcelain buttons made by Birchcroft of England which I bought in 2017. The photos are not very good but the buttons themselves are sort of blurry. I think they are transfer printed and they are backmarked. They measure a little over 2 1/2 cm.