All things buttons & more …
These two glass buttons were made by Di Bloomfield from Australia. I have been fascinated by glass for a long time and the colours and the modern design of these buttons are very eye catching. I have enjoyed watching a glass maker in Bendigo make beads and that would be a similar process to buttons I think. What a wonderful art.
A lot of these buttons are opp shop finds over the years. They are various old plastics but simple as they may seem they still take place in the history of fashion. I think it wise to keep some of them so they may be slotted into their particular period in time. They may not be beautiful but are still important.
Here are two enamelled buttons in the Art Nouveau style from the early 1900’s. I love the flowing lines of this period; they are so elegant and graceful. They both have floral designs but are quite different. The designs of buttons always impress me and I wonder who actually designed them. I am sure they would have “played “with pencil and paper trying all angles and aspects until they came up with what pleased them the most. I also wonder if there are any such sketch books from designers in museums. Oh how I would love to see one!
I have just bought these three buttons made by Birchcroft of England. They are three different iris pictures and are of very good quality. Their trademark is shown on the back.
Celluloid, being one of the first plastics produced was popular from the late 1800’s right up til the 1930’s. As it was highly flammable, it was then replaced with various other synthetic plastics. These three buttons are all large, being approx. 5 to 6 cms in diameter. They are all tin backs with a metal loop shank. They are also all in a shade of brown which was a common colour of the early 20th Century.
You would not call these buttons pretty but they are very different. Being from the 1940’s they are rather chunky. They were made in a few different sizes and colours of the period.
This is a nice group of laminated bakelite buttons. Two have a combination of bakelite and wood. The triangle one combines two different colours of bakelite and the last one has a triangle of Applejuice bakelite (named because of the colour) inserted. I reckon that they are from the 1930’s period and are really striking. They all have a metal loop shank.
These two buttons are a little bit different being square and so colourful. They are made in Czechoslovakia and are fairly modern. The blue one especially when held up to the light is such a vibrant colour. The design on both is the same but because of the colour choices look different.
Button covers were made to “dress up ” a garment. You could change the look simply by sliding the back of the button cover under the existing button and snapping it shut. A plain jacket (for instance) then had a new look. I wonder who thought up this idea.
Casein is termed a plastic (being a by product from milk with an additive to harden it) Many buttons were made from this during the 1930’s and 40’s. The ones I have shown are all black and white and they certainly make a statement. Some have several layers of alternate black and white which have then been cut back through the layers at different angles giving a really good look. Others have been carved through the top black layer to reveal the white underneath. They appeal to me.