Buttons

[benjclark]

I know, there are a lot of threads already about buttons, but the images die and the discussion loses some of the helpfulness.

My grandmother recently dropped off two large tins filled with antique buttons. She said some came from her husband's folks (born 1860 and 1897, respectively). Some are stuff from old projects of hers and garage sale finds. So, these have lost nearly all historical context, so I'm grabbing what I can use for reference and use. Military buttons, easy (3 from 1870s!).

It's the "normal" buttons that are giving me trouble. I found a couple calicos, which are cool. Not much porcelain, I don't think, but a lot of shell and bone. Surely not all shell buttons are appropriate for the 1860s. Which black glass buttons can I use? What about wood? Some buttons, I'm assuming are bone, seem to have a mold seam on the edge. What I need is a guide of which buttons to pull and which to pass on to craft night at the church.

Websites and the couple books I've been able to look over organize buttons by what they feature, and are geared toward the fancy stuff, not the "mundane".

Thanks!

[VMurphy]

Re: Buttons

Benjamin...You ask a very intersting question and one I'm also often puzzled about. Particularly the question about black glass.. I, too, inherited a large box of buttons. The same lady that gave me the buttons also gave me an interesting book that dates some of them. Horn,bone,pearl, and glass of a wide variety were used. I've seen some most interesting and nearly modern looking glass buttons on period dresses. Usually quite fine, of colored glass with a metal rim.
I've noticed pearl buttons, both 2 hole and 4 hole being used on men's shirts. Is this appropriate? Occasionally I find rubber buttons, or nice horn buttons that would like nice on a sack coat, I assume this would be appropriate.
I plan to expand into men's clothing of all types and could also use a bit of info. on buttons from good solid documentation. I'm familiar with what would be used on women's clothing, but still need to study more on what is appropriate for men's wardrobe.

Hopefully we'll get some response to our questions..

Best Regards
Vivian Murphy

http://www.themantuamaker.net

[benjclark]

Re: Buttons

Thank you! Since posting the question I've been scouring sources, photographs and the collections at the Oklahoma Historical Society (where I work). It seems as though almost nothing is known about the simple everyday buttons for clothing in this time. I'd imagine there were all kinds of innovation for mass production, but I just can't find sources. More digging to come and results will be posted w/ images, etc. Thanks!