Buttons as ornaments rather than fasteners date all the way back to Ancient Rome. Functional buttons, or buttons as we are used to today, first appeared in Germany in the 13th century. With the introduction of snug fitting garments in Europe in the 13th and 14th century – the use of buttons became widespread.
There are so many different types of buttons. Metal buttons, which include pewter, brass, ivory and silver, all became popular in the 18th century. Pewter was popular for men’s fashion, but was replaced by the brass button. Brass was used to manufacture more buttons than any other material – mostly because of its superior quality. Ivory is from the tusks of elephants, whales, walruses and hippos. However, due to the rarity of this material manufacturers began using animal bones to imitate this early in the 18th century.
Natural buttons are made of Wood, Horn, Vegetable Ivory, Mother-of-Pearl and
Shell. Did you know that Horn buttons were made from the hooves and horns of cattle and other animals? Vegetable Ivory buttons got their name because they were carved from corozo nuts and resembled ivory – therefore, Vegetable Ivory! Mother-of-Pearl are made from the “pearly” lining of shells and Shell buttons are made from mollusca shells rather than nacreous (pearly)
Glass butto
ns were literally made from black glass attached to a metal back. These were quite rare. Some glass buttons were made of “jet”, a highly fragile and expensive mineral mined in England. Luster is a metallic sheen that can be applied to black glass buttons for a spectacular look.
There are many other types of buttons; Rhinestone, Novelty, Holiday, Leather and Acrylic just to name a few. Whatever your favorite “button” type is, we can all agree they’ve come a long way!
There are so many different types of buttons. Metal buttons, which include pewter, brass, ivory and silver, all became popular in the 18th century. Pewter was popular for men’s fashion, but was replaced by the brass button. Brass was used to manufacture more buttons than any other material – mostly because of its superior quality. Ivory is from the tusks of elephants, whales, walruses and hippos. However, due to the rarity of this material manufacturers began using animal bones to imitate this early in the 18th century.
Natural buttons are made of Wood, Horn, Vegetable Ivory, Mother-of-Pearl and
Shell. Did you know that Horn buttons were made from the hooves and horns of cattle and other animals? Vegetable Ivory buttons got their name because they were carved from corozo nuts and resembled ivory – therefore, Vegetable Ivory! Mother-of-Pearl are made from the “pearly” lining of shells and Shell buttons are made from mollusca shells rather than nacreous (pearly)Glass butto
ns were literally made from black glass attached to a metal back. These were quite rare. Some glass buttons were made of “jet”, a highly fragile and expensive mineral mined in England. Luster is a metallic sheen that can be applied to black glass buttons for a spectacular look.There are many other types of buttons; Rhinestone, Novelty, Holiday, Leather and Acrylic just to name a few. Whatever your favorite “button” type is, we can all agree they’ve come a long way!
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