These two buttons are of the same design showing a horse and rider. I guess they may be of Bakelite and the central disc is brass. They are probably from the 1920s – 30s and may have been worn on an overcoat.
PLASTIC AND METAL BUTTONS
PORCELAIN BUTTONS
Here are two Mack porcelain buttons that I have just acquired. They are transfer printed with a hand painted border and made in Stoke on Trent in England. One shows a squirrel and the other a yellow flower. I have a few others in my collection and they all have that flower like shape.
POTTERY BUTTONS
These two pottery buttons are of lovely rich colours with a high glaze. They were made in Sydney in the 1940s by Marie Gardner. The self shanks are rather chunky.
PLASTIC BUTTON
This button is unusual both in colour and design. I guess it may be from the 1960s. It is of bright yellow plastic with a silver filigree domed centre. Under the dome it is of an iridescent pink which is a great contrast to the yellow. I wonder what garment it would have been worn on.
GLASS BUTTONS
Here is a pair of small white glass domed buttons. They are painted with tiny pink roses and complimentary blue dots. They have a brass loop shank.
BONE BUTTONS
Here are two modern realistic carved bone buttons which I think come from Nepal. One is a bird and the other an elephant which are quite naively done and that adds to their charm.
POTTERY BUTTON
This button is very big and measures 5 cm. It has a real handmade look and I wonder if it was fired in hot ashes. It has a very textured surface, part hessian and part fernlike. I find it interesting and very tactile. It is probably too large to be practical but is a good collector’s piece.
GLASS BUTTON
This is a bright blue glass button with a simple floral design in reds and yellows. Part of the paintwork is missing but apart from that it is in very good condition. It is not easy to find glass buttons with the paintwork as new. It measures 2 1/2cm.
ENAMEL BUTTON
Here is an enamel button in a beautiful rich blue with a lovely scrolly design in brass. It is a Paris Back and has a brass loop shank. It is a recent addition to my collection. I bought it from one of my button collector friends.
GLASS BUTTON
Here is another recent birthday present from my friend Suzanne. It is a large oval glass button with a blue and black pattern and is quite showy. It has a self shank and measures 3 1/2cm x 2 1/4 cm.