Back Types

Discussion - The following are visual examples of back types including shanks and other means of attachment. Each example represents one of back types listed in the glossary which can be accessed with links just above (one a browser based table and the other a downloadable/printable version). The examples are shown in the categories of (1) ceramic and china, (2) black and clear and colored glass, (3) metal and glass mounted in metal, (4) fabric, (5) other materials, (6) synthetic polymers, and (7) back types not specifically defined. To avoid excessive duplication, all possible back types are not shown in each material section. The red numbers in parenthesis identify the specific glossary definition being demonstrated. See the glossary table for an explanation of the source documents for all listed types and the material section where each type is demonstrated. Printable work sheets (with and without images) can be accessed with the button links above.
Hover mouse over any button to see the back
Back types for Ceramic and China Buttons
Applied (4) Porcelain	Dresden (18) Porcelain (Meissen)	Hollow back (24) Porcelain (like Dresden)	Hollow back (24) Porcelain (like Dresden)
Inserted (26) China Whistle - sew-through	Inserted (26) (5) China Bird cage	Pin shank (35)	Pin shank (35) Norwalk
Plate and Loop (37) (29) Gaiter bulls' eye	Self (42) Satsuma - older style	Self (42) Satsuma - newer style	Self (42) Arita - Back mark
Sew-through - 2 hole (43) Glazed Ceramic	Sew-through - 3 hole (43) China	Sew-through - 2 hole (43) (53) Igloo / Blue Book describes as tunnel	Undefined Arita-Mechanically applied
Back types for Glass Buttons
Antiquarian (3) (46) Same as Staple per 95 NBB Note glass displaced by wire shank	Applied (4) 2 piece mirror	Box (2-way) (6)	Box (4-way) (6) (21) (thread groove)
Bridge (8)	Claw (13) four petals	Claw (13) five petals	Cone (15)
Cone (15) Bimini metal back with back mark	Double (17) Black Glass-screen embedded in glass	Hollow (24) (13) BG - Claw - sometimes called Birdcage	Hollow (24) Black Glass - Small plate
Hollow (24) Black Glass - Large plate & back mark	Hump (25) Victorian Glass	Hump (25) (13) 2 Piece mirror - also claw shank	Hump (25)
Hump (25) Black Glass - 2-way - Claw	Key shank (28) (38) 95 NBB also defines this as "Popper"	Key Shank (28) (38) Shown Exposed on broken button	Key shank (28) (38) 95 NBB also defines this as "Popper"
Loop (29) Screen back	Pig tail (34) Defined in C&CG Handbook	Pin shank (35) with paste escutcheon	Pin shank (35) with brass escutcheon
Plate and Loop (37) (29)	Plate and Loop (37) (29) Elongated - Waistcoat	Plate and Loop (37) (29)	Plate and Loop (37) (29) Watch Crystal - Blue Book 7-6.7 Plate hidden by black adhesive
Rosette (41) with hump shank	Rosette (41) with metal loop shank	Self (42) Blown	Self (42) Cone shape
Self (42) Black Glass - Wedge Shape	Self Shank (42) Black Glass with thread grooves	Sew-through - Whistle (43) (56)	Sew-through - 2 hole (43) Metal back - back mark
Sew-through - 4 hole (43)	Staple (46) (57) same as wire shank	Swirlback (49)	Thread Shank (50) with metal rim
Thread Shank (50) sewn resembling 18th Cent. cord	Tunnel (53) Hole passes through the body No special projections	Wire (57) 2-piece mold
Back Types for Metal Buttons
A-Type (1) (2) Half round bent wire brazed to flat one piece buttons of cast or hand wrought metal	Alpha shank (1) (2) 95 NBB says Alpha is name for "A-Type shank. Blue Book says wire eye attached by soldering or welding	Bird Cage (5)	Bird Cage (5) Paris back mark
Brazed (7) Shell background-movable-gilded	Cast or Integral (10) (27) "lost wax method" cast - 17th Century	Cast or Integral (10) (27) 2-piece mold method - 17th Century	Cast (10)
Cat gut (12) or (47) 18th Century repoussé Called string-back if string/cord is used	Cone (15) Self Shank - Lithograph	Cone (15)	Cone (15) Design under glass
Cone (15) French Tight	Double (17) split-like design	Double (17)	Glove shank (23) Get better example
Hollow (24) Brass - Back mark	Loop (29) (7) Brazed loop	Loop (29) (2) (57) Also called Alpha or Wire	Loop (29) Paris back mark
Loop (29) (19) Elongated - also called Eye	Loop (29) Center shank buckle	Loop (29) Hard white pewter-like cone	Loop (29) (57) Screenback or wire shank
Omega (31) Jacksonian	Omega (31) Expanded Omega	Pad back (32) Glass in Metal	Rivet (40)
Rivet (40) Sometimes called Donut RSB	Rivet (40)	Example not yet found Parallel Wire Shanks (33) Blue book refers to "parallel wire shanks" in 24-8 (Repoussé metal assorted). May be same as cat-gut but with wire	Self (42) Wedge Shape
Sew-through (43)	Slip (44) Shank designed to be loose	Split (Circumflex) (45) Also called cut-out	Split (Circumflex) (45) Also called cut-out
Thread back (51)	Thread back (51) Repoussé	Tombac (52)	Tombac (52) Partial section for profile view
Wedge (55) (10) Cast Bronze-drilled hole-18th Century	Wobble (59) Overall button	Wobble (59) Overall button

Acknowledgments Thanks to Lou Yeargain, Barbara Barrans, Gwen Niemisto, Gloria Badger, Pat Koehler, Kevin Kinne, and Judy Stopke who assisted in the development of this educational resource. These collaborators provided reviews, comments or other support including images or buttons for the examples shown. References (1) Worksheet compiled by Jeanne H. Talbert - date unknown (2) Dorothy Foster Brown - Button Parade (pages 264 - 267) - 1968, Lightner Publishing Corporation (3) Ruth Watson – Just Buttons (pages 589-597) - July, 1972. (4) National Button Society Blue Book - Official NBS Classification and Competition Guidelines - 2011-2012 (5) Button Basics - Jane Ford Adams - National Button Bulletin, May 1995 (Reprint of 1959 Adams article) (6) A Complete Classification - Clear and Colored Glass Buttons, Jane Ford Adams - National Button Society (7) Warren K. Tice - Dating Buttons, 2003, Warren K. Tice, Publisher (8) Guidelines for Collecting China Buttons - National Button Society - 1994 (9) Classification of Black Glass Button - National Button Society - 1967 (10) Its All About Celluloid Buttons - Monica Walker (11) National Button Society Section 9-A Synthetic Polymers Handbook (Howells, MacFarlane, Deal, Smith) - No Date (12) Sally C. Luscomb - The Collector's Encyclopedia of Buttons, 6th edition - 2006, Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Note to the Viewer Based on the large amount of data processed, there will surly be some missteps in this educational resource. All of these are the responsibility of the author who would appreciate any suggestions for corrections and improvements. Please send these to price6@comcast.net.