China

The purpose of this section is to provide examples of china buttons as defined in the 2011-2012 NBS Classification Guide including one or more examples of each type in the listings and an example that covers each term in the definitions. No attempt is made to illustrate the wide variety of possibilities in the class/subclass categories. More detailed information on china buttons terminology and definitions may be found in the National Button Society's Guidelines for Collecting China Buttons (Guidelines)². Those who wish to focus on collecting china buttons, better understand the NBS Guidelines, and see many more variations of the class/subclass types, should visit Janet White's "China Buttons 101" on her Baubles and Buttons website. A link to Janet's important china resource along with a link to a printable version of Sandra Brown's Calico Pattern Guide is provided below. Other resources are referenced at the bottom of this page. Superscript numbers refer to the particular reference source of the terms used in the label.

3-1 Back Types Assorted Asterisk identifies complex construction
3-1 Molded Self Shank	3-1 Molded Self Shank	3-1.1 Inserted Self Shank* Two-way - Two piece	3-1.1 Inserted Self Shank* Bird Cage - Two piece
3-1.1 Inserted Self Shank* Bird Cage - Three piece	3-1.2 Metal Shank* Inserted Metal Shank - Shoe	3-1.2 Metal Shank* Inserted Metal - Smock	3-1.2 Metal Shank* Plate and Loop - Gaiter Bulls' eye
3-1.2 Metal Shank* 3 Color-Hobnail-Gaiter Bulls' eye	3-1.2 Metal Shank* Plate and Loop - Aspirin - Calico	3-1.3 Sew-through Three-hole - Pie Crust	3-1.3.1 Sew-through Four-hole - Calico
3-1.3.2 Sew-through Two-hole - Fish eye	3-1.3.2 Sew-through Two-hole - Panty waist	3-1.3.2 Sew-through Two-hole - Igloo*	3-1.3.2 Sew-through Two-hole - Igloo*
3-1.3.3 Sew-through Whistle* - Type A² - 2-piece	3-1.3.3 Sew-through Two-hole - Whistle* - Type B² - 2-piece	3-1.3.3 Sew-through Two-hole - Whistle* - Type C² - 2-piece	3-1.3.3 Sew-through Two-hole - Whistle - Type D²- 1-piece
3-2 Body Styles Assorted²
3-2 Hobnail Regular	3-2 Hobnail Inverted	3-2 Radiating Line Rim Pie Crust	3-2 Radiating Line Rim Saw Tooth
3-2 Radiating Line Rim Bias Saw-tooth	3-2 Radiating Line Rim Czech spoke wheel	3-2 Body Style Two-hole - Pattern eye	3-2 Body Style Tire
3-2 Body Style Saucer	3-2 Body Style Deepwell	3-2.1 Hollow Eye Mottled	3-2.2 Oval Eye Rounded ends
3-2.2 Oval Eye Boxed ends	3-2.2 Oval Eye Mound	3-2.3 Smooth Beveled Rim Dish	3-2.3 Smooth Beveled Rim Ink well style
3-3 Colors Assorted Also see 3-4 for other colors
3-3.1 Body/base Color Black - Plate and Loop*	3-3.1 Body/base Color Gray - Two hole	3-3.1 Body/base Color Blue - Four-hole	3-3.1 Body/base Color Turquoise - Inserted shank*
3-3.1 Body/base Color Brown - Oval eye	3-3.1 Body/base Color Pink - Fish eye (See Note 1)	3-3.1 Body/base Color Copper - Whistle* (See Note 1)	3-3.2 Surface Decoration Color Blue - Stencil
3-3.2 Surface Decoration Color Magenta - Transfer*	3-3.2 Surface Decoration Color Orange - Paint	3-3.2 Surface Decoration Color Green - Transfer	3-3.2 Marbled - Inserted Self Shank*
3-4 Decorative Designs and Finishes Assorted
3-4 Decorative Design/Finishes Gingham - Knob center²	3-4 Decorative Design/Finishes Gingham - Knob center² Also 3-3.2 - 2 Color Surface Decoration	3-4 Decorative Design/Finishes Two-hole - Whistle* - Transfer	3-4.1 Banded Hollow Eye - Ringer
3-4.1 Banded Bull's eye*	3-4.1 Banded Pie Crust	3-4.1 Banded Mound	3-4.1 Banded Three-hole
3-4.2 Calico Two-hole - Colored body	3-4.2 Calico With stripe	3-4.2 Calico Two color	3-4.2 Calico Basket weave pattern
3-4.2 Calico	3-4.2 Calico	3-4.2 Calico	3-4.2 Calico
3-4.2 Calico	3-4.2 Calico	3-4.2 Calico	3-4.2 Calico
3-4.2 Calico Knob²	3-4.3 Lusters Iridescent Pearl	3-4.3 Lusters Partial Luster (pearl)*	3-4.3 Lusters Translucent (Silver)*
3-4.3 Lusters Opaque	3-4.3 Luster Whistle* -Type B² - 2-piece	3-4.3 Lusters Iridescent - Tire	3-4.4 Stencil
3-4.4 Stencil	3-4.4 Stencil	3-4.4 Stencil	3-4.4 Stencil
3-5 Unlisted
3-5 Mounted in Metal China Jewel	3-5 Metal Rimmed	3-5 Mounted in Metal Drum with china center	3-5 Shapes Linear - Square
3-5 Shapes Linear - Scalloped Edge	3-5 Shapes Contour*	3-5 Shapes Realistic⁵	3-5 Unlisted Rare large size luster (1-1/2") From Bapterosses factory disposal area in Briare, France. See reference 6.
Acknowledgments Thanks to Lou Yeargain, Janet White, Barbara Barrans, George Gautier, Mary Whitson, and Sandy Brown, the principle collaborators in the development of this educational resource. Their contributions included reviews, comments, and other support such as providing images or buttons for the examples shown. References (1) National Button Society Blue Book - 2011-2012, Official NBS Classification and Competition Guidelines (2) Guidelines for Collecting China Buttons - Ruth Lamm, Beatrice and Lester Lorah, and Helen Schuler, NBS, 1970 (3) China Buttons 101, Janet White, Baubles and Buttons website, http://baublesandbuttons.com/blogs/china-buttons-101/2301552-introduction. (4) Calico Pattern Guide - Sandra Brown, 2010 (5) A Fresh Look at China Buttons - Barbara Barrans and Pat Fields - National Button Bulletin, May 2007 (6) The China Exchange, http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/chinaexchange/index.html, an educational website for china button collectors Notes (1) The body/base color convention for china buttons is different than for other buttons. Specifically, the Blue Book glossary (page 69) states that the color of a button is determined by the color visible at the shank or back of the button. Further, the glossary and clear and colored glass definitions (7-3) state that the application of decorative finish, overlay, metal back or OME does not affect the base color. China is an exception. Blue Book definition 3-3.1 states that "a plain white bodied china is white; a white bodied china with applied marigold luster is considered orange". In other words, the front surface color of the button is the body/base color for a china button.