The purpose of these pages is to provide visual examples for
eighteenth century buttons as defined in Section 24 in the NBS
Classification Guide1 (Blue
Book).
The
examples are grouped and labeled in accordance with the Blue Book Section 24
outline. Where available, the size of the button has been included. Passing your mouse over the button image will turn the button over
so the back may be seen. In some cases, more than one example of a type is
shown. Finally, scanning or photographing buttons has distinct limitations
in the areas of perspective, color, details, and dimensions. Thus, many
buttons do not reveal their true character and appearance in the photos or
scans. When uncertainty exists, ask a fellow collector, club member or a
dealer to show you an actual example of the button in question. A
printable worksheet for Section 24 can be accessed with the link at the
bottom of this page.
| Hover your mouse over the button images below to see the back of the button | |||
|---|---|---|---|
24-1 Ceramics |
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 24-1 Ceramic - French imitation jasperware made of bisque porcelain Wood back - cat gut shank (1-7/16") |
 24-1 Ceramic - Porcelain (1-3/16") Hollow back (2 Piece) - Hand painted |
 24-1 Ceramic - Porcelain (1-1/8") Hollow back (2 Piece) - Hand painted |
 24-1 Ceramic - Royal Copenhagen Openwork (1-1/2") |
 24-1 Ceramic - Porcelain (1-7/16") Turret shank |
 24-1 Ceramic - Porcelain (1-1/4") Caughley or Worcester |
 24-1 Ceramic - Porcelain (1-3/8") Caughley or Worcester |
 24-1 Ceramic - Porcelain (1-1/16") |
24-2 Enamel |
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 24-2 Enamel - En-grisaille (1-1/2") Émaux Peints - Atypical pearl back |
 24-2 Enamel - Basse-taille Pierreries and Paillons (1-1/2") |
 24-2 Enamel - Battersea Enamel transfer - monochrome (1-3/8") |
 24-2 Enamel - Émaux Peints polychrome (1-1/2") |
 24-2 Enamel - Basse-taille/Émaux Peints/Encrusted Enamel on copper - Staffordshire type (1-3/8") |
 24-2 Enamel (1-3/8") Pierreries and Paillons - on Copper |
 24-2 Enamel - Émaux Peints Monochrome (1-7/8") |
 24-2 Enamel - Émaux Peints Transfer - Colored by hand (1-1/2") |
24-3 Fabric (Cloth Covered Mold/Woven - Passementerie - Thread Covered/Wound) |
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 24-3 Dorsett High-top (7/8") |
 24-3.1 Fabric - Cloth covered mold Embroidered |
 24-3.1 Fabric - Cloth covered mold (1-1/8") |
 24-3.2 Fabric - Passementerie (3/4") Pearl Fascia |
 24-3.2 Fabric - Passementerie (1-3/8") Metallic Fascia - Enamel OME |
 24-3.2 Fabric - Passementerie (1-1/8" ) Metallic Fascia - Paste OME |
 24-3.2 Fabric - Passementerie (3/4") Pearl OME |
 24-3.3 Fabric - Thread Covered (Wound) (1-3/8") |
24-4 Materials Mounted in/on Metal (Ceramic - Gemstone - Glass - Pearl/Shell) |
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 24-4 - Mounted in/on Metal - Ivory (1-1/2") |
 24-4 Mounted in/on Metal - Bone Gemstone OME (1/2") |
 24-4.1 Mounted in/on Metal - Ceramic Painted - Copper/Steel Collet (1-3/8") |
 24-4.1 Mounted in/on Metal - Stoneware Wedgwood (1-3/8") |
 24-4.2 Mounted in/on Metal - Gemstone Enamel and paint DF (1") |
 24-4.2 Mounted in/on Metal - Gemstone Mounted in Silver (5/8" x 5/8") |
 24-4.3 Mounted in/on Metal - Glass Pastes (1-3/8") |
 24-4.3 Mounted in/on Metal - Glass (1-3/8") Reverse Intaglio - Silver plated copper |
 24-4.3 Mounted in/on Metal - Glass (1-3/8") Reverse Intaglio - Silver plated copper |
 24-4.3 Mounted in/on Metal - Glass (1-3/8") Reverse Intaglio - Copper |
 24-4.3 Mounted in/on Metal - Glass Paint DF - (1-3/8") |
 24-4.4 Mounted in/on Metal Pearl/Shell - Brass OME |
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Acknowledgments: Thanks to Lou Yeargain, Barbara Barrans, Elizabeth Hughes, and Millicent Safro who assisted in the development of this educational resource. They provided reviews, comments or other support including images or buttons from their collections for the examples shown. Potential labeling issues or suggested improvements should be directed to the Button Country team at Contact Us. References: (1) National Button Society Blue Book - Official NBS Classification and Competition Guidelines (2) Hughes, Elizabeth and Marion Lester. The Big Book of Buttons. St Johann Press - 2010 (3) Warren K. Tice - Dating Buttons, A Chronology of Button Types, Makers, Retailers & Their Backmarks, 2003 |
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