background

How to engage the slide show:

click on the first image on the left of the gallery below, then select the arrow at the bottom left of the enlarged image. Or you can manually go to the next slide by hovering your cursor on the middle right side then clicking the arrow that appears. Hover your cursor on the middle left side  then click the arrow that appears to go backwards. Close the slide show or manual show by clicking the X button on the lower right of the image. (The image of each button is followed by an image of that button's back or reverse side.)

Acknowledgments, References and information for this category are at the bottom of this page.

Button Country

An Educational Resource for Button Collectors - originally created by Paul Rice

Section 10 : Metals

* To download and print pdfs of the metals worksheet click these links: page 1 , page 2 , page 3.

Some descriptions of these buttons may be cut off.  Full descriptions can be seen in the slide show mode.

a01_10-1 White-OMELeaf-F
a01_10-1 White-OMELeaf-b
a02_10-1-Design-F1
a02_10-1-Design-b1
a03_10-4-1 MexicanOME-f
a03_10-4-1 MexicanOME-B
a04_10-5-2 CutRiv-WallPap-F
a04_10-5-2 CutRiv-WallPap-b
b01-2 CastDragon-FF
b01-2 CastDragon-BF
b02_10-2 Al-HorseStamp-F
b02_10-2 Al-HorseStamp-b
b03_10-2 AL-Paint1-F
b03_10-2 AL-Paint1-b
b04-2 DF-cut-FF
b04-2 DF-cut-BF
b05_10-2 White-1pc-F
b05_10-2 White-1pc-B2
b06_10-2 AL-F
b06_10-2 AL-b
b07-2 Bicycle-F
b07-2 Bicycle-B
b08_10-2 VerbalSpace-f
b08_10-2 VerbalSpace-b
c01_10-3-3 PewterSoft-f
c01_10-3-3 PewterSoft-B
c02_10-3 PewterChristina-f
c02_10-3 Pewter-Christina-1Pc-BM-b
c03_10-3 Pewter-DanforthBM-F
c03_10-3 Pewter-DanforthBM-b
c04_10-3 Pewter-DanforthBM3-f
c04_10-3 Pewter-DanforthBM3-b
c05_10-3 Pewter-Rimmed-BM-F
c05_10-3 Pewter-Rimmed-BM-b
c06_10-3 Pewter-Faced-BM-F
c06_10-3 Pewter-Faced-BM-b
c07-_10-3 Pewter-Chadette-1pc-F
c07_10-3 Pewter-Chadette-1pc-b
c08_10-3 Pewter BC-F
c08_10-3 Pewter BC-b
c09_10-3-2 Pewter-HardWhite-BM-F
c09_10-3-2 Pewter-HardWhite-BM-b2
c10-3-3 PewterSoft2-F
c10-3-3 PewterSoft2-b
c11_10-3 Pewter-Plumbago-1Pc-f
c11-10-3 Pewter-Plumbago-1Pc-b
d02-4silveralanfaison-FF
d02-4 silveralanfaison-bF
d03_10-4 SilverPiper-F-2
d03_10-4 SilverPiper-b
d04_10-4-1 Indian-F
d04_10-4-1 Indian-b
d05_10-4-2 SilverHallmark-f
d05_10-4-2 SilverHallmark-B
d01-4 silver HM-F
d01-4 silver HM-B
d06_10-4 Battersea-f
d06_10-4 Battersea-B
d07_10-4-2 Hallmark-F1
d07_10-4-2 Hallmark-Combo
d08_10-4-3 Niello-F1
d08_10-4-3 Niello-b
e01_10-5-1 BluedCup-f
e01_10-5-1 BluedCup-B
e02_10-5-1 BluedDF-F2
e02_10-5-1 BluedDF-b
e03_10-5-1 Bluedb-F
e03_10-5-1 Bluedb-b
e04_10-5-2 CutRivonBrass-F
e04_10-5-2 CutRivonBrass-b
e05-5-2 CS with BGF2
e05-5-2 CS with BGFB
e06-5-2steelbackf
e06-5-2steelbackb
e07_10-5-1 Blueda-F
e07_10-5-1 Blueda-b
e08_10-5-4 AppDes-F
e08_10-5-4 AppDes-b
e09_10-5-5 Stampeda-f
e09_10-5-5 Stampeda-b
e10_10-5-6 BugCup-F
e10_10-5-6 BugCup-b
e11_10-5-6 Cup1-F2
e11_10-5-6 Cup1-b
e12_10-5-6 Cup2-F
e12_10-5-6 Cup2-b
e13_10-5-6 Cupbrass3-f
e13_10-5-6 Cupbrass3-b
e14-5-6 wood bkgnd-FF
e14-5-6 wood bkgnd-BF
e15-5_6 Steel Cup Front Final_Thm2
e15-5_6 Steel Cup-Back Final_Thm2
e16_10-5-6 CupShellWatch-F
e16_10-5-6 CupShellWatch-b
e17_10-5-6-Cup-Sailor-F
e17_10-5-6-Cup-Sailor-b
e18-5 1pcOME-F
e18-5 1pcOME-B
e20-5-6 SC-Pierced-F2
e20-5-6 SC-Pierced-B
f01_10-6 brasstinperforate-f
f01_10-6 CrystTin-Perf-b
f02-6 CT-F1
f02-6 CT-B
f03_10-6 TinnedWM-F
f03_10-6 TinnedWM-b
g01-10-07-Medieval-14th-Fl
g01-10-07-Medieval-14th-B
g02-10-07-1650English-F
g02-10-07-1650English-B
g03_10-7 Cast-18thSpain-F
g03_10-7 Cast-18thSpain-B
g04_10-7 Tombac-F
g04_10-7 Tombac-b
10-8 Brass - Paris BM
10-8 Brass - Openwork with steel OME
10-8 Brass - Openwork with steel OME
10-8 Brass - with steel shape
10-8 Brass - Tinted Steel OME - Black paint DF
10-8 - Brass - See Blue Book 10-0, p.47.
10-8 Brass - See Blue Book 10-0, p.47.
10-8 Brass - Verbal BM "CHAS.RUBENS & Co - CHIC."
10-8 Brass - 2-piece
10-8 Brass - Realistic
10-8 Brass - Wallpaper heart (double pattern)
10-8 Brass - Pewter - OME
10-9 Copper - 18th Century
10-9 Copper - 18th Century - Gilt plated, pierced
10-9 Copper - 18th Century - Silver plated
10-9 Copper - BM "D. Evans Co." (Div. II)
10-9 Copper - Mexican
10-9 Copper - Native American
10-9 Copper - Realistic
10-9 Copper - Silvered (Worn)
10-10 Gilt - 18th Century - Three Color (copper/silver/gold)
10-10 Gilt - Sporting - "TREBLE STANDARD EXTRA RICH" BM
10-10 Victorian Gilt - 2-piece
10-10 Division III Gilt
10-10.1 Early Gilt English plain face- BM "GCST STRONG"
10-10.1 Gilt English plain face Livery - BM "Firmin & Sons London"
10-10.1 Early Gilt (1820-1850) Watch Case "EXTRA RICH GILT" BM
10-10.1 Early Gilt - Britannia Hallmark BM "Double Gilt - No. 2"
10-10.1.1 Golden Age - 1-piece - BM "Ivan Hendrick & Co"
10-10.1.1 Golden Age - 1-piece - BM "Scoville Waterbury"
10-10.1.1 Golden Age - BM "H. Sandland-Super Fine"
10-10.1.1 Golden Age-BM "R & W R - Extra Rich"
10-10.1.1 Golden Age-BM "Robinson Jones & Co"
10-10.1.1 Golden Age - BM "HAYDEN & SON-EXTRA RICH"
10-10.1.2 Jacksonian (Pictorial) - BM "L. Kendrick .. Extra"
10-10.1.2 Jacksonian "Cousin" (Non-pictorial) "Fancy Orange Color" BM
10-11 Background - Screen
10-11 Background - Screen
10-11 Background - Screen
10-11 Background - Screen
10-11 Background - Twinkle
10-11 Background - Blue & silver foil
10-11 Background - All-over pattern background
10-11 Background - All-over pattern background - Steel Cup)
10-12.1 Decorative Finish (DF) - Cold Plastic Enamel (Studio)
10-12.2 Decorative Finish (DF) - Enamel - BM "Depose"
10-12.3 Decorative Finish (DF) -Japanned
10-12.3 Decorative Finish (DF) - Japanned
10-12.3 Decorative Finish (DF) - Lacquered - plus enamel
10-12.3 Decorative Finish (DF) - Stenciled - Crystallized tin
10-12.4 Decorative Finish (DF) - Original Tint/Finish
10-12.4 Decorative Finish (DF) - Original Tint/Finish
10-12.4 Decorative Finish (DF) - fired on paint - BATTERSEA
10-12.5 Decorative Finish (DF) - Paint (fired) - Paris BM
10-12.5 Decorative Finish (DF) - Paint (fired) - Drum
10-12.5 Decorative Finish (DF) - Paint (not fired)
10-13.1 Mechanical Make-up - 1-piece - Escutcheon
10-13.1 Mechanical Make-up - 1-piece - Coin type
10-13.1 Mechanical Make-up - 1-piece - Cut Steels
10-13.1 Mechanical Make-up - 1-piece - Tint
10-13.1 Mechanical Make-up - 1-piece - Cricket Cage
10-13.1 Mechanical Make-up - 1-piece - Paste OME
10-13.2 Mechanical Make-up - 2-piece
10-13.2 Mechanical Make-up - 2-piece - Tint - Paris BM
10-13.2 Mechanical Make-up - 2-piece - French tight - Paris BM
10-13.2 Mechanical Make-up - 2-piece - French tight - Paris BM
10-13.2 Mechanical Make-up - 2-piece - Paris BM
10-13.2 Mechanical Make-up - 2-piece
10-13.3 Mechanical Make-up - 3-piece
10-13.3 Mechanical Make-up - 3-piece
10-13.3 Mechanical Make-up - 3-piece
10-13.3 Mechanical Make-up - 3-piece - Glass OME
10-13.3 Mechanical Make-up - 3-piece - Pewter face
10-13.4 Mechanical Make-up - Openwork
10-13.4 Mechanical Make-up - Openwork - Paste OME
10-13.4 Mechanical Make-up - Openwork
10-13.5 Mechanical Make-up - Twinkle
10-13.5 Mechanical Make-up - Twinkle "CZECHOSLOVAKIA" BM
10-13.5 Mechanical Make-up - Twinkle Shiny yellow liner
10-13.5 Mechanical Make-up - Twinkle Border
10-14 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Synthetic polymer
10-14 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - celluloid
10-14 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Fabric - Paris BM
10-14 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Porcelain
10-14 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Gemstone - Turquoise
10-14 Other Material Embellishment - Celluloid Border "D.R.G.M. 37652" BM
10-14.1 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Rhinestones/Pastes
10-14.1 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Rhinestones/Pastes
10-14.1 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Glass
10-14.1 OME - Black Glass with Green Glass Coronet & Paint DF
10-14.1 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Glass - Saphiret
10-14.1.1 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Glass Pigeon Eye - Div I
10-14.2 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Steel
10-14.2 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Steel
10-14.2 OME - Brass with Steel and White metal border
10-14.2 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Steels and Enamel Plaquette
10-14.2 OME - Bronze (on Sterling) - BM "Battersea 1995"
10-14.2 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Pewter (Bright Cut)
10-14.2 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Pewter
10-14.2 Other Material Embellishment (OME) - Shell
10-15 Specific Types - Tintype
10-15 Specific Types - Tintype
10-15 Specific Types - Wire Filigree
10-15.1 Specific Types - Inlay/Overlay (Bidri)
10-15.1 Specific Types - Inlay/Overlay - Damascene
10-15.1 Specific Types - Inlay/Overlay Damascene/Russian
10-15.1 Specific Types - Inlay/Overlay - Shakudo
True original shank
10-15.1 Specific Types - Inlay/Overlay - Fused

Acknowledgments: Thanks to Lou Yeargain, Barbara Barrans, Kevin Kinne, June Chapman, Gloria Badger, Jane Quimby, and Jane Perry who assisted in the development of this educational resource. They provided reviews, comments or other support including images or buttons for the examples shown. A special thanks to Joan Lindsay & Joy Journeay for their expert editing skills!


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

(4) Click here for descriptions of select metals for this category.

Back to Button Materials

* Metal Buttons Worksheet in Excel