Grand Army Of The Republic buttons

click on image to enlarge

Chinese Dragon Slayer button

click on picture to enlarge
the metal button is antique, available in my button store under the METAL category
http://PegsBUTTONS.ecrater.com

Coralene glass button

Coralene: Buttons decorated with tiny glass beads heat fused to the surface. Most have

4-way metal shanks and are considered to be of the middle to late 19th century (Victorian period). Some have only one color added and a rim of gold luster added while others have floral designs. My button is a lady’s head and does have the 4-way metal shank

Magic Weather Button

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

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

Happy Thanksgiving

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

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.

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?