Keep Homestead Museum

Picture Buttons
Metal
Picture Buttons were first made in the 19th century, mostly in the
1880s-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 1840s 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 18th
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 Myras 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 1950s. 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 Myras 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 Sallys 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 Button Parade, Dorothy foster, 1968. Wonderfully clear drawings of many of the picture buttons. |
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