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.

MI ESKIMO button

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

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.

Bird riding a bicycle button

this is a antique brass button

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

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.

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...

Aviation uniform buttons

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Peace the watchword of the late 1960’s..buttons

Peace the watchword of the late 1960’s
the buttons are metal and plastic

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Snowflake button Bethlehem pearl

A close up of the Bethlehem pearl snowflake button

Snowflake buttons

Snowflake buttons..there are metal, black glass, horn, pearl, enamel and a few plastic. If you scroll down and on the right side you will see ARCHIVES..click on Nov. 2009 and read my article on snowflakes.

Bethlehem pearl with cross button

Bethlehem pearl with cross button

Bethlehem pearl Christmas Tree button

Bethlehem pearls-a souvenir and export item of long standing in the Holy Land-were made as both buttons and brooches. Traditionally round, some were realistically shaped. Most of these buttons were imported by American dealers from the 1940’ to 60’s, but they have again been available in recent years. The earlier examples were usually well-designed and carved; the quality seemed to deteriorate over the years. This button is a heavy large pearl with handsomely carved branches and ornaments

Happy Thanksgiving

Turkey buttons are rare..I showed the bottom 3 last year which are a modern plastic, antique 2 piece brass and a Arita porcelain.
I have only acquired the top 2 since then..metal with plastic dome and a pewter.

Rose button

A few legends of the ROSE

In Greece, rose petals were used to cure the bite of a mad dog.
Romans were sure that a rose petal floated in wine would prevent drunkeness.
The seed or rose hips are said to contain 20 times more Vitamin or Ascorbic Acid--found in oranges.
This antique horn button is available(under the misc. materials category
@ Pegs Buttons

Humpty Dumpty button

Humpty Dumpty was a egg, famous in France, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Switzerland. The term Humpty Dumpty is given in the Oxford English Dictionary as the name for a ale and brandy drink of the late 17th century. Also, it means, a short clumsy person of either sex. Over the years the name Humpty Dumpty has been used for a game played by little girls.
This small plastic button is available(under the plastic category
@ Pegs Buttons

Zachary Taylor button

Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850) was the 12th President of the U.S. (1849-1850) Known as "Old Rough and Ready," Taylor died just 16 months into his term, the third shortest tenure of any President. Only Presidents William Henry Harrison and James Garfield served less time.

This antique button is brass with a tinned back. The light color is scanner glare.

The Pot of Basil button

Isabella, or the Pot of Basil (1818) is a narrative poem by John Keats, adapted from a story in Boccaccio's Decameron (IV, 5). It tells the tale of a young woman whose family intend to marry her to "some high noble and his olive trees", but who falls for Lorenzo, one of her brothers' employees. When the brothers learn of this they murder Lorenzo and bury his body. His ghost informs Isabella in a dream. She exhumes the body and buries the head in a pot of basil which she tends obsessively, while pining away
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Isabella's brothers slay her lover: he appears to her in a dream, and shows her where he is buried: she privily disinters the head, and sets it in a pot of basil, whereon she daily weeps a great while. The pot being taken from her by her brothers, she dies not long after.

you can read the poem (which is lengthy here http://www.bartleby.com/126/38.html

Halloween buttons

I added several Halloween buttons on my ebay today

Pegs ebay

Andrew Jackson and patch button?

The Hermitage is 12 miles from Nashville, Tn. and was Andrew Jacksons home.
I had the pleasure of visiting the Hermitage in the 90's..I walked around the grounds and house in awe knowing I was walking on places he had walked..he and his wife Rachel had a love-match that never dimmed and her sudden death left him mourning his lost for the rest of his life. Rachel had a garden and they are both buried in the corner of this garden.
What does this have to do with the button I am showing?..the button came in a collection I bought from a women that lived a short distance from the Hermitage..it is a brass sporting button, she had it labeled "Andrew Jackson and his horse Patch" so I am wondering if she did indeed know this button or not?
Does anyone else have this button?

The Seven Immortals buttons

The Seven Immortals, or gods of fortune. Arita porcelain from Japan.
These were sold as a boxed set by Toshikane Art Porcelain, Tokyo, during the 60's. Although modern, they are quit fine. Click on picture to enlarge.
This set is available in my ecrater button store under the ceramic category @

Pegsbuttons

Walking a dog buttons

I have researched the design on these buttons without much luck. I have all the button books and only found the first (wood) button in 1. It is found in Button Hand Book Supplement 3 by Nicholls..titled "St Hubert's Hounds"..the next button (same design but reversed) (celluloid one piece 30's) is pictured in book Buttons by Fink and Ditzler but no caption was added and the last, burwood/syrocco button pictured in Fun Buttons by Osborne also no caption.
Thanks to Sue Marsh for picture of 3rd button.

Don't call me Barney Oldfield anymore..button

The brass button shown here has been referred to by button collectors for years as the "Barney Oldfield" button. Alas, it has little or nothing to do with Mr. Oldfield. It is, however, a very accurate depiction of one of the very earliest racing automobiles, the Panhard et Lavassor. René Panhard and Émile Levassor in 1887 joined to produce early automobiles for racing and production. These early races were in France, such as the 1895 Paris-Bordeaux-Paris Rally, and in the U.K. and also America. Panhard is still in business. They ceased production of passenger automobiles in 1967 but continure today building military vehicles.

Thank you William James Hentges for your research on this button and for permission to post it here.

Panama Canal button

This two-piece stamped brass coat button commemorates the opening of the Panama Canal in 1913.

Today, the canal continues to be not only a viable commercial venture, but also a vital link in world shipping.

WW 2 'Kilroy Was Here' Button

A number of 'Kilroy Was Here' souvenirs appeared at wars end this Japanese-made vegetable ivory button was among them.
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from google
There was one person who led or participated in every combat, training or occupation operation during WWII and the Korean War. This person could always be depended on. GI's began to consider him the "super GI." He was one who always got there first or who was always there when they left. I am, of course, referring to Kilroy Was Here. Somehow, this simple graffiti captured the imagination of GI's everywhere they went. The scribbled cartoon face and words showed up everywhere - worldwide. Stories (some even true) abound.
The Legends of Kilroy can be searched on google!

Button poem My Hobby

A hobby in such troubled days
Can pep you up in many ways.
Your worries seem to fade away,
If at a hobby you can play.

Now antique buttons interest me,
All sizes, shapes and kinds I see.
Flowers and birds and ships and trees,
Cats and dogs and bugs and bees.

The story buttons are quit rare,
Historic scenes they sometimes bear;
Or fairy tales or knights of old,
Or moats and castles edged with gold.

The hand carved pearls and rich inlays
And sparkling jewels laid out on trays,
Or fastened neat to card board white,
Are surely an attractive sight.

I find in grandmothers button box,
The calicos that trimmed her flock,
And dainty glass ones which she said
Came off the dress in which she wed.

In boxes old and attic dark
To look for buttons is a lark.
And what a joy it is to find
A button of some rare old kind.

My family thinks I'm somewhat queer,
I'll snip them off their clothes, they fear;
But then they should be very glad
That safety pins can still be had.

Marie Hicks, Just Buttons, Oct. 1944

Antique Blown Glass Buttons

These buttons were actually blown and were hollow. The early ones had clear glass loop shanks; the later (probably after 1900) had metal shanks on metal plates. Color and sometimes bits of tinsel were blown into some of the hollow buttons. Most common are those that imitate pearl color, but there were a few made in pastel colors as well as in deep red, gray, and black; some have been found with cotton or a waxlike substance inside. Blown glass buttons were usually ball-shaped, but a few have been found faceted or oval. They range in size 3/8 to 3/4.
The above information is from the book Collector's Encyclopedia of Buttons by Sally Luscomb.
The piece of delicate material looks to of been cut off a garment to save the buttons..notice the back, the buttons were strung in such a way as to remove them easily before cleaning the garment.
Below this are some of my blown glass..all have the glass shanks.
Click on image to enlarge

Crochet button bracelet..instructions

1.Sixty-six buttons in one color or in harmonizing colors.
2.Gold, silver, or white elastic thread; #7 steel crochet hook.
3.Three rows of buttons, 22 in each row, separated by one row of single crochet.
Chain 44 stitches, join with slip stitch in first stitch of chain.
Chain one single crochet in each chain stitch around; join.
Chain one, join button by inserting hook through shank of button, pull loop through and complete single crochet.
Skip one single crochet, join a button in next single crochet.
Continue around in this way until you have joined 22 buttons; join with a slip stitch in first chain.
Make three rows of buttons with a row of single crochet between them.
Finish off with a row of single crochet to balance the first row made.

The bracelet can also be made by making seven rows of single crochet, and then fastening the buttons on securely with sewing thread.

Laser cut ..Button

This is a modern plastic button. The button design was cut by using a laser light source.

Here are a few tidbits picked up from Google:
--Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A device that produces coherent light with a narrow range of wavelengths.
--optical device that produces an intense monochromatic beam of coherent light
--A powerful beam of light used in some types of surgery.
--Lasers work as a result of resonant effects. The output of a laser is a coherent electromagnetic field. In a coherent beam of electromagnetic energy, all the waves have the same frequency and phase.
--Lasers are one of the most significant inventions developed during the 20th century. They have found a tremendous variety of uses in electronics, computer hardware, medicine, and experimental science.

Laser cutting has been used on several button materials, including polyester, vegetable ivory, pearl, and possibly others.

If interested I have several of these buttons for sale in black or red in my button store (under the plastic category
@ Pegs Buttons

V for Victoria and 'V' for Victory buttons

'V' for Victoria. There were two periods when buttons were rife with 'V' designs: first during Victoria's reign, and later at the end of World War II when the 'V' stood for Victory. The first one shown here dates 19th century, ('V' for Victoria) engraved brass with cut steels..a double 'V'. The others are World War II ('V' for Victory) 2 are plastic and 2 metals..notice the Morse Code.
Click on picture to enlarge

Panic Button

A popular saying in the 1970's, a time of political unrest and disillusionment, was, "don't push the panic -button"

for sale in my button store (under the plastic category
@ Pegs Buttons

Cartoons: buttons

Animated cartoons were an important part of the movie-going experience. Whether as the feature, or as short fillers between motion picture, newsreels and popcorn advertisements, they were wildly popular. The brand-new film animation companies quickly learned-as was the case with radio serials-that characters with ongoing storylines kept the public returning to the theaters for more.
The cartoon industry was the provence of the limited number of companies. Warner Brothers did the Looney Tunes,(see the 10 buttons together above) starring a number of favorite characters , although Bugs Bunny could be called the leader of the pack. Woody Woodpecker had his own following as well. But no other cartoon character has ever had the success of Mickey Mouse, from the Walt Disney Corporation.
from ABOUT BUTTONS BOOK by Peggy Osborne
I have a few cartoon character buttons available in my ecrater button store under the plastic category
@ Pegs Buttons