Picture Buttons

Metal Picture Buttons were first made in the 19^th century, mostly in the 1880’s-1900. If you have one of these buttons and many were produced, you may not be able to identify its exact age. Many have been re-issued as well as reproduced because of their extreme popularity. Everyone wanted a copy of these buttons for their collections. The Big Book of Buttons by Hughes & Lester is extremely helpful in being able to name these picture buttons. However, there are many out there that will remain nameless until such time as they are identified. Many metals were used in addition to these popular brass buttons. Silver was used to mold some truly beautiful picture buttons and very often the mark used identifies the time of its manufacture and country of origin. The popular gilt buttons of the 1840’s are NOT considered Picture Buttons although some of the face designs contain pictures. They must be referred to as “Golden Age” buttons if made in the USA. 

Porcelain buttons have had pictures of flowers, animals, and people for many years. Liverpool Transfers are just one example; usually classical heads are the subject matter. Interestingly enough is the fact that they are probably called Liverpool Transfers because the technique used to transfer the picture was first developed in Liverpool. It is believed the buttons were manufactured elsewheres, but retain that name. 

Enamel buttons made in the 18^th century up to the present day have pictures incorporated on many of their face designs. Figures of men and women were popular design choices as well as scenes, buildings, animals, and flowers. Many were embellished with cut steel and paste. 

Hand-carved picture buttons were made from ivory, bone, cinnabar, coconut shell, tagua nuts, tortoise shell, gemstones, and Mother of Pearl shells from the South Seas. In fact the vast variety of materials used in making buttons takes us around the world where peoples used indigenous materials to create the many and varied picture buttons that we find in Myra’s collection. 

Some of the finest pottery buttons are made in Arita, Japan and in Satsuma, Japan and have been featured in previous button article. You may find them in the KHM Button Archives. I refer to them because most of them are picture buttons, people, animals and flowers. 

Many other picture buttons have been molded from plastics, rubber, horn, gutta percha, a type of early plastic. Many of the plastics were used to create the realistic picture buttons so popular in the 1950’s. Glass is another popular material used in the making of picture buttons. Black glass incised or molded with gold and silver depict scenes, buildings, animals, and people. Clear and colored glass was used to create realistic fruits and other items. Beautiful flower buttons were created with glass. 

Wood, leather, linoleum, paper, resins, fabrics, and glass have also been used to create picture buttons. Many of these have been created by Studio Artists. Hand painted scenes and people are popular subjects. Paperweights are beautiful with animals, flowers, and people encased in their small glass globes. 

In summary, you may draw the conclusion that Picture Buttons are one of the most popular types of buttons that have ever been made. And that Myra’s collection contains a plethora of them. So please enjoy the many in the new display as well as those distributed throughout the museum!

J.M.H., 2008 

Thanks must always be extended and recognized to the following: 

The Encyclopedia of Buttons, Sally Luscomb, Revised Edition, 2003---The monsoon button club visited Sally’s museum many times in nearby Connecticut and Sally was a welcome visitor to their club meetings here in Monson. 

The Big Book of Buttons, Elizabeth Hughes & Marion Lester, Second Printing, 1991 

The National Button Society, Blue Book, 2008