Saturday, December 15, 2012

Rock crystal buttons

Rock crystal buttons are scarce. These small silver-mounted buttons, with red foil underneath the faceted rock crystal stone, were worn on a man’s breeches in the early-eighteenth century (Many collectors think that this type of button may actually date from the 1600’s

Friday, December 7, 2012

Goofie buttons

In the 1930’s, a mania began for realistically-shaped, small plastic, celluloid, or glass buttons. The fad was gone by the early 1950’s, but for 2 decades, countless sets of these buttons, known as GOOFIES, were manufactured. These are plastic with a self shank

Monday, November 12, 2012

Lyre buttons

We have all seen marching bands at high school and college football games, and in holiday parades. Did you ever wonder at the emblem on their shiny brass buttons? The design was probably that of a LYRE. This musical instrument is one of the oldest known. The ancient Greeks believed it was invented by Apollo, the god of music and poetry. They played the lyre to accompany songs and recitations. However, the lyre was known even earlier, since it is depicted in Sumerian art of about 2500 B.C. The Babylonians and the Egyptians had this instrument, too.
this group is available in my button store, look under the UNIFORM category
Pegs Buttons

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Glove buttons

Metal glove buttons impressed with designs or maker’s trademarks. Gloves had a much greater social significance in the past than they do now and persons of wealth and social standings were correctly gloved at all times-a social custom which reached its zenith in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Hence, gloves were made not only for outdoors, to keep the hands warm, but for morning, afternoon and evening wear, indoors and out, in a wide range of fabrics and colors.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Billy Possum button

Billy Possum was a popular nickname for William Howard Taft, successor to Roosevelt for the presidency in 1908. Taft was often represented as an oppossum in political cartoons and satirical postcards of the day. The button like the Teddy Bear buttons, was made for children’s clothing. Button is brass with a tinned back.

Friday, September 21, 2012

MI ESKIMO button

Mi ESKIMO Interesting button but cheaply made brass button for children’s clothing in the early 1900’s

Friday, August 17, 2012

Enameling on copper studio buttons by Herman Lowenstein




Enameling on copper studio buttons by Herman Lowenstein
When he retired to Florida he began experimenting with ground colored glass and the process of enameling on copper in 1975. He used pennies, findings from N.Y. suppliers and his own cut outs. He sold briefly at art shows and the button collectors found him. He usually but not always signed his buttons H L
These are from my personal collection.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Goldstone buttons

Dix. I clear and colored glass and black glass
Aventurine: Usually referred to as GOLDSTONE. Aventurine was discovered by chance about 1810 and manufactured for a long period at the glassworks of Murano, Italy. The gold iridescence of the glass is caused by a crystalline separation of metallic copper from the mass, colored brown by peroxide of iron. The molten glass was allowed to cool slowly to facilitate the formation of crystals. Trapped air formed bubbles, which help to reveal the true character of the goldstone. Frequently, the polished surface of the finished product is pitted where the polishing cut through air bubbles.
above information is from the book “The Collector’s Encyclopedia of Buttons” by Sally Luscomb

Monday, June 25, 2012

Celluloid tight-top button..the guts!

this vintage celluloid tight-top button was damaged so I took it apart and this is what I found.
During the depression, work pants and other buttons were made out of
flattened, recycled tin and steel cans.


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Pegs Button Blog: French Ballerina Theatre button

Pegs Button Blog: French Ballerina Theatre button: French Ballerina Theatre button This head button with costume is just like the full figure one in the Big Book of Buttons the full figure...

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Police uniform buttons


I also collect uniform buttons here are some of my police buttons,all are metal with a loop shank, they are antique and vintage buttons
Click on image to enlarge

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Work Clothes(overall) Buttons


These buttons were made for the manufacturers of men’s work clothing during the early part of the twentieth century (1900-1935)
They are 2-piece metal with brass tops usually, although white metal, often with a copper or bronze finish, was also used. Some were painted—usually black or red. The backs are of tinned steel which was actually made out of tin plate obtained from discarded tin cans up to about the 1st world war. They have a wire loop shank. A very FEW have a self shank.
Click on picture to enlarge

Monday, April 30, 2012

Wooden buttons Tunbridge Turnery type


Mr. E. E. Brown of California made Tunbridge Turnery type wooden buttons during the 1960’s. The original Tunbridge Turney buttons were made in the 17th and 18th centuries and the art was lost as the artisans passed away. Mr. Brown was an ardent wood collector and rediscovered the process.
Small pieces of many differently-colored, natural woods are carefully cut into a variety of geometric shapes. These are then carefully fitted together and arranged into designs which best enhance the beauty of different woods. Looking like inlay from the top, these buttons are not inlaid; but, rather, fitted together so that both front and back show the variations of shapes and the complete pattern.
CLICK on picture to enlarge
I do have one of his buttons for sale in the misc.category at my ecrater button storePegs Buttons

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Raggedy Ann and Andy buttons

All the buttons are plastic except the last 2 and they are hand-painted enameled brass
History and Legend by Patricia Hall
http://www.raggedy-ann.com/patty.html

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Rabbit and Easter egg buttons


Some of my rabbit and Easter egg buttons
The second button down on the left is titled “Easter Parade” in one button book it is called “A gnome pulls a eggshell cart” in another button book it is titled “A boy pulls a eggshell cart”
the button directly under it is a rabbit as the doctor examining a male patient.
Click on picture to enlarge
Buttons are antique/vintage and a few modern.
Happy Easter

Monday, March 26, 2012

Shoe buttons, Shoe button hook


Shoe buttons
These buttons, which were sewed on leather-and fabric-top shoes for fastenings, were made of several materials. Most of them were dome shaped. Black and white were the two most popular colors because they were made to match the shoes; however, colored shoe buttons were made. The colored ones were usually covered with paints, though some were made of colored glass. Unless the glass buttons are found on shoes, it is difficult to differentiate them from small dress buttons
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Shoe button Hooks: Most button hooks found in collections today were made between the 1860s and 1930s. They came into very common use with women's high button-up boots and shoes around 1880, and persisted until after World War I. Shoes for both men and women in the late 1800s were generally made of stiff leather or serge, with between 2 and 26 buttons; getting the buttons through the buttonholes of the stiff material could be a daunting task. Thanks to Paul Rice for this shoe button hooks research.
Click on picture to enlarge.
I have a group of shoe buttons and some button hooks available in my ecrater button store.Pegs Buttons

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Todd Oldham buttons


Whimsical buttons from American fashion designer Todd Oldham, manufactured by the Streamline Button Company in the early 1990’s. All the buttons are heavy metal with molded shanks.

Click on picture to enlarge

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Monday, February 27, 2012

Men in Space my fun card

The top center large button is a pinback the others are buttons with a shank.
Click on image to enlarge

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Project Mercury To The Moon button


Project Mercury was the first human spaceflight program of the U.S. It ran from 1959-1963 with the goal of putting a human in orbit around the Earth.
The Mercury-Atlas 6 flight on February 20 in 1962, was the first American flight to achieve this goal.
The button is pewter and backmarked Chr. It is much brighter than the image shows. I have 1 available under the metal category @ Pegs Buttons sorry its SOLD

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Sputnik card with buttons


The Space Age began on October 4, 1957, with the launch of the Soviet satellite SPUTNIK. Sputnik buttons are portrayed here. Top glass button and 4 of the brass buttons are showing both satellites.
Click on image to enlarge

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Olympics games related button

The non-political image of the Games was shaken badly in 1980 when American President Jimmy Carter banned the U.S. team from competing in the Olympics in Moscow. The Soviets retaliated by refusing to send a team to the Los Angeles games four years later.
This small plastic button is available in my button store under the plastics category @ Pegs Buttons

Friday, February 3, 2012

Yin and Yang button

Yin and Yang, oriental symbols of the life force combinations and harmony, came back into popularity during the 1980’s.

This button is made of horn.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

William Tell button (another version


William Tell holds an arrow up to the governor Gessler, while his son carries the apple which his father has pierced with an arrow whilst balanced on his son’s head.
below is updated information from the new edition of the Big Book of Buttons
Huguenin buttons were imported from Switzerland by an American button dealer in the 1960’s. Huguenin was probably not the artist or modeler, but the company that made the buttons. The buttons were said to have been made from old dies.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

William Tell Button


This is a extra large “French White” button, It was made in the 40’s-50’s in France.
Huguenins was an extremely large family which originated in Switzerland. Several of them were medalists. They emigrated to Australia, New South Wales, France and the U.S. This button depicts William Tell who shot a apple from his son's head. If you look closely you will see the name Huguenin on the bottom right of the button.
Click on picture to enlarge.
The above information is from The National Button Bulletin Oct. 1999

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Artid pictorial buttons


Artid buttons were made in England in the 1940’s. They are amino plastic and were made in many different designs in 3 sizes. The painted colors were mainly black, red, green, wine and light navy. Each button has the backmark “Artid Made in England”. The card shown here is from my private collection..note the last row which are different and not as plentiful as the amino plastic.
Click on picture to enlarge.
SOLD OUT: See some I have for sale in my ecrater store @ Pegs Buttons