It is one of little things that we never take much note of, but how many times a day do we rely on the efficiency of the tiny little disc we call a button?
Unlike many collectibles that take years to become established, buttons were instantly collectible. At first they were collected only by the affluent (King Louis XIV of France spent over $5 million on buttons during his lifetime), then gradually their appeal trickled down to the masses.
Today’s collectors focus on buttons from 1800-1940. Bone, glass, plastics, metals, nuts, antlers and stone, the button has taken many forms, reflecting both fashion and social attitude as it has traveled through time.
One of the most popular of the collectible buttons from the early 1800s are cloisonne buttons. These diminutive works of art were the most difficult to produce because the process demanded that tiny threads of wire be soldered to a base. The resulting cavities were then filled with enamel and the button was fired.
The Victorian era, with its tendency toward the ornate, brought us picture buttons with stamped images from popular operas and literary works of the day. Black glass buttons were popularized by Queen Victoria during her mourning period after the death of her husband Prince Albert in 1861. Often taking the form of plants or animals, they are collected for their high relief and attention to detail. One of the rarest finds from the Victorian era buttons are those made of jet, an expensive, lightweight mineral mined in parts of England. True jet buttons are easy to identify as they will be warm to the touch.
Celluloid buttons first appeared in the Sears and Roebuck catalog for 1897. Early celluloid was extremely fragile and few of the earliest buttons survived. In the early 1920s Bakelite plastic buttons were introduced and remained a staple into the early part of the 1950s. Many of these were carved and embellished with a metal escutcheon, often in the shape of an animal or a plant. Others were decorated with glass sequins or semi-precious stones. “Cookie” buttons made from a long section of laminated Bakelite that was sliced into wafers are a good find. Also watch for buttons made of Lucite, a synthetic resin produced by DuPont in the mid-1930s.
From the years between the two world wars come some of the most beautiful of all the artisan buttons. Made of glass, they featured Art Deco stylings and are often found in near mint condition. After WWII Bohemian glassblowers produced an unusual button called “moonglow.” These opaque buttons with a clear glass face are not as valuable as their earlier counterparts, but are still desirable to round out a collection.
Interested in sharing your passion for buttons with other collectors? The National Button Society had been educating and encouraging collectors since 1938. Visit them on the web at nationalbuttonsociety.org. Until next time……Linda
Linda Kennett is a professional liquidator specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached for question or comment at 317-258-7835 or lkennett@indy.rr.com