I finished sorting and washing the latest buttons and these are the treasures I excavated from the dirt pile. It is all about the hunt! The buttons above are all glass. My very favorite is the white whistle on the left center. This is the first glass whistle I have found and never one that is such a deep ball shape. Look just to the right of the quarter and you will spot a very tiny button similar the ones I blogged about
here. This one is clear glass instead of black and luckily, the rhinestone is still in place!
Mother of Pearl. The four matching ones in the upper left are set in metal. I didn't photograph the ordinary ones but there was a HUGE pile and I had to start a new jar. I should sell some of them one of these days but the only ones I can seem to part with are the dark ones. For some reason, those just don't do anything for me.
Some fun plastics. When I was washing them I could smell the Bakelite but I don't think it was any of these. Possibly the yellow one.
Vegetable ivory plus two plastic buckles. I think the top buckle is Bakelite but I didn't test it.
Metal buttons and buckles. That group that is strung together are little mirrors. Do any of you button people know what those ones in the upper right are? I am thinking some kind of cuff button but they don't come apart so I'm not sure how they work.
China buttons, including some pie crusts and two neat velvet buttons. I don't usually go for fabric buttons but these are such puff-balls that they remind me of cupcakes. I should have taken a photo from the side so you could see how high they are. I cannot image pushing them through a buttonhole.
Bone buttons. I know they are kind of creepy but they have always appealed to me. Bone and MOP just shout ingenuity - making do with what there is.
Two-piece buttons, wafers and two tight-tops.
Whoops! I have washed a LOT of buttons over the years and this is the first time I had this happen. The water wasn't especially hot, just hot tap water that I could put my hands in. The Bakelite smell was REALLY strong so I think it might have been these three. Maybe there is something about white Bakelite??
They are all clean and sorted and put away so I'm ready for more. It was a good time!
13 comments:
These are all wonderful - even love the warped ones! Thanks for sharing!
Actual bone? Dare I ask whose bones? I also have the blank stare regarding vegetable ivory (what is that?) ... I think I need a button book!
What's a 'whistle'? Also, I've heard the term tight tops, but I'd really like to know what it means.
I get all my buttons at garage sales or antique malls, i can't wait til it gets warmer and i can start collecting again.
Wow, you have informed us today! I didn't know how little I know about buttons, although I have hundreds! I need a button book too. Do you have one you recommend---or have I missed that? Thanks!
Ooh, I think I enjoyed going through all your buttons just as much as you did. Love all those MOP beauties and the vegetable ivory too. Actually, I love them all. Sometimes those cuff link thingies are really hard to get apart. Thanks for sharing:-)
What a score!! You must be in heaven...or were..but now you need another fix!! You know I know nothing about buttons, but I always thought those little metal things were for cuffs.
Look at all your buttons! The bone ones are interesting to have! Now you need to make an art piece displaying all these pretties! ;) xo Heather
More button info to store in my brain..always a learning thing with them. With Amy on those bone buttons..what type of bone? That could be a really creepy Criminal Minds episode.....
You know I love buttons, but I know absolutely nothing about them. I've never heard of a whistle button! You'll have to do another post to answer everyone's questions.
what a great bunch of treasures. I love sorting buttons more than anything too. Your bottom white buttons that curled up are celluloid and the "smell" (that reminds me of Vick's Vapo rub) is from the celluloid buttons out-gassing as there is camphor in them, which is what makes them flammable, among other things.
I often find those cufflink ones...they don't do anything for me so I never bothered to find out more about them! ;) I love the big velvet ones, and the pearls. What fun!
Oh man I missed these. It is so nice to be back if only every once in a blue moon. I am headed out to work tomorrow and looking forward to some craft time in the summer. Smiles..Renee
oh my - there are some beautiful buttons in this post. Will you use any of them in your art? It makes me want to go through some of my old buttons and photograph them! I like the red ones in the first photo - they look like ladybugs!
Post a Comment