I finished sorting the treasure chest of buttons last night and this is the booty. It was a lot of work because this was an especially filthy tin of buttons but the results were well worth the effort. There were quite a few buttons that I have never seen before, more leather buttons and shoe/glove buttons than I have EVER seen in one box before, very few modern plastics, a lot of glass and no metals. Not a typical button box.
The buttons above are the most unusual and I am hoping someone will read this and educate me. They feel like some sort of composite material and seem to be molded around a metal shank. You can see the backside of one in the center at the very bottom. Those N or Z shapes are sparkly and there are sparkles in the art deco fans. A lot of buttons have passed through my hands but none like these.
These look like wood but they are not. The brown is a shell of what appears to be a thin plastic or celluloid that is molded over a metal base that holds the glass dome in the center. Another unusual type I haven't seen before.
These pressed milk glass buttons depict a raised gold accordion player.
These black buttons are smaller but have the same design.
Dyed pink mother of pearl ball-shaped buttons. Love these!
I should have put something in this picture for scale so you could tell just how teeny-tiny those MOP buttons in the center are. I know they are diminutives but I call the MOP ones baby buttons and they get their own special spot in my collection.
And speaking of diminutives! These are not really buttons, they are very tiny, sew-on, black glass rhinestones. The rhinestones had fallen out of every single one and it took me a while to put one and one together and realize they went together. I rescued them all out of the dirt and debris in the bottom of the tin and will attempt to put them back together. I have re-glued the rhinestones in buttons before but nothing so tiny so we will see how that will go!
13 comments:
You found some real treasures there ... I love that accordion player. I just bought a book on buttons for $1 at a yard sale - I have such a hard time identifying them, even with a guidebook, but I'd be on the lookout for one if I were you. You might have some really real treasures!
Those accordion player buttons are so interesting -- where would those have been used, I wonder? The only thing I can think of is on the uniform of an accordian player in a band! Did you get to go to the button show in PDX? After looking at your buttons, I feel myslef crossing over into the button collecting zone ... must stay strong...
Just when I think I have seen every button you bring more out. I haven't seen these sparkly z looking ones. Nor have I seen shell and glass ones. Great finds as usual and I must say I need to find more buttons...smiles..Renee
Oh, how much fun are all those unusual buttons?! I think you're right about those colorful buttons being composite, but I can't say I've had some quite like them in their sparkle and multi-color effects! I really like the two-part brown and frosted plastic buttons, too; I will keep my eyes peeled for what either of these varieties are called since I don't know off hand. I LOVE the pink shell buttons! And those glass accordion player buttons are really fun, too! I'm experiencing button envy!!
I got caught up on your blog today and it sounds like you've been having fun and keeping busy between the crazed squirrel, cabinet and buttons! I just love the cabinet and the wallpaper idea. Like everyone else, I haven't seen buttons like some of those either. It sure is fun seeing what you've found!
Love looking at these neat buttons! I like the black starfish ones!! xo Heather
You really find interesting buttons. I don't look at vintage buttons much so have not seen any of those. The accordian player buttons are so very cute!!! It was great to see you yesterday. Hope your grand daughter likes the angel.
Isn't a container full of buttons so much fun. I have some buttons that were my grandmother's.
I've been reading through several of your blog posts.
What treasures you have - I so enjoyed sorting through your buttons. I have never seen many of these before- so unusual. The accordian player is my favorite!
ohhhhhh what a box of beauties! I love the pink ones..You need to make a necklace out of those. I have no idea about the mystery buttons. The rust ones almost look like an Asian design. Good Luck gluing!
A treasure chest full of fun! It sounds like you had such a good time sorting through all these little jewels.
Thanks for stopping by my blog, Kathy!
You have some of the prettiest buttons in these pictures. Wow!
What a good find. and I just washed a tin of buttons also and need to do a post about them. A frirend gave them to me they were her Mother's and Grandmother's buttons !!!! I played with buttons for 2 days.I am trying to make a necklace I seen in a thread magazine once made out of mother of pearl buttons and a man's tie. I am going to use tatting instead of the tie
good for you taking time to put back together those delicate little rhinestone buttons
Janice
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