other materials

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 15 : Other Materials

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

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

15-1 Bone Assorted - (18th Century dug) See Reference 3

15-1 Bone Assorted - Colonial Transition Pin Shank

15-1 Bone Assorted - 4 hole

15-1 Bone Assorted - Repoussé (18th Century)

15-1 Bone Assorted - Antler - openwork

15-1.1 Bone Assorted - Decorative Finish

15-1.2 Bone Assorted - Mounted in/on Metal -18th c., gemstone OME

15-1.3 Bone Assorted - OME - Horn with Shell Veneer

15-1.3 Bone Assorted - OME - Shell Inset

15-1.4 Bone Assorted - Working Methods - Engraved

15-1.4.1 Bone Assorted - Working Methods - Carved

15-1.4.1 Bone Assorted - Working Methods - Turned/Lathed

15-1.4.2 Bone Assorted - Working Methods - Pierced (Antler)

15-2 Composition - Molded - Pictorial

- Back mark - "Manton's Patent"

15-2 Composition - Molded - Pictorial

15-2 Composition - Molded - Bridge Shank

15-2 Composition - Molded - Realistic shell

15-2 Composition - Colored Spots

15-2 Composition - Other Finish - Paint DF

15-2.1 Composition - OME - Glitter

15-2.1 Composition - OME - Glitter and pearl pieces

15-2.1 Composition - OME - Silver Inlay

15-2.1 Composition - OME - Brass, Paste, and Metal Rim

15-3 Ivory Assorted - Chrysanthemum

15-3.1 Ivory Assorted - Decorative Finishes (DF) - Scrimshaw and ink

- Walrus

15-3.1 Ivory Assorted - Decorative Finishes (DF) - Ink/Dye

15-3.1 Ivory Assorted - Decorative Finishes (DF) - Paint

15-3.2 Ivory Assorted - Mounted in/on Metal - 18th Century

15-3.2 Ivory Assorted - Mounted in/on Metal - painted ivory Under glass

15-3.3 Ivory Assorted - (OME) - gemstones, horn etc...Shibayama

15-3.4 Ivory Assorted - Working Methods Asst. - Pierced

15-3.4.1 Ivory Assorted - Working Methods Asst. - Carved

- Curved needle self shank

15-3.4.1 Ivory Assorted - Working Methods Asst. - Carved

15-3.4.1 Ivory Assorted - Working Methods Asst. - Turned/Lathed + OME

15-3.4.2 Ivory Assorted - Working Methods Asst. - Engraved Scrimshaw

15-4 Rubber - Diminutive - Unmarked

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "Dalmite" - Modern

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "I.R.C. Co. Goodyear 1851"

- 4-hole sew-through

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "N.R.Co. - Goodyear's - P=T - 1851"

- 2 hole sew-through - Political - Dancing Frogs

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "I.R.C.Co - Goodyear-1851"

- Metal loop shank

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "I.R.C.Co - Goodyear - 1851"

- Self Shank

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "I.R.C.Co - Goodyear - 1851"

- Whistle-hole

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "N.R.Co. - Goodyear's - P=T - 1851"

- Pad back

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "N.R.Co. - Goodyear's - P=T - 1851"

- Brown color - Liberty

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "N.R.Co. - Goodyear's - P=T - 1851"

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "N.R.Co. - Goodyear's - P=T"

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "N.R.Co. - Goodyear's - P=T -1851"

- Faceted

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "N.R.Co. - Goodyear's - P=T - 1851"

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks -"N.R.Co. - Goodyear's - P=T - 1851"

- Brown color - pin shank

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "N.R.Co. - Goodyear's - P=T"

- Brown color

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - 2 patent dates "Novelty Rubber Co. New York" and "Goodyear's Patent 1849-1851"

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "N.R.Co. - Goodyear's - P=T - 1851"

- Linear shape

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "N.R.Co. - Goodyear's - P=T - 1851"

- Rimmed (OME) - Brown color

15-4.1 Rubber - Back Marks - "N.R.Co. - Goodyear's - P=T"

- MOP Inlay OME

15-5 Unlisted - Bamboo

15-5 Unlisted - Cinnabar

15-5 Unlisted - Cinnabar - Backmark "China"

15-5 Unlisted - Cinnabar - Backmark "China-Sung-Silver"

15-5 Unlisted - Cinnabar - Linear shape - Backmark "China"

15-5 Unlisted - Cinnabar - Ball shape with Pin Shank

15-5 Unlisted - Cork

15-5 Unlisted - Coconut Shell

15-5 Unlisted - Fruit Pits - Backmark "China - Silver"

15-5 Unlisted - Walnut Shell - Enamel on back

15-5 Unlisted - Mineral - Galena

15-5 Unlisted - Gemstones - Banded Quartz

15-5 Unlisted - Gemstones - Jasper Realistic shape

15-5 Unlisted - Gemstones - Aventurine

15-5 Unlisted - Gemstones - Agate

15-5 Unlisted - Gemstones - Maine Jasper

15-5 Unlisted - Gemstones - Jade

15-5 Unlisted - Gemstones - Malachite

15-5 Unlisted - Gutta Percha - Linear shape

15-5 Unlisted - Gutta Percha

15-5 Unlisted - Leather - Inserted metal loop shank

15-5 Unlisted - Leather - Leather Loop Shank

15-5 Unlisted - Leather - Metal disk & loop shank

15-5 Unlisted - Leather - Metal hump shank

15-5 Unlisted - Leather - 2-hole sew through

15-5 Unlisted - Leather 4-hole sew through

15-5 Unlisted - Leather - Pad Back - BM "Paris-Solidite-55"

15-5 Unlisted - Leather - set in metal - BM "CASA RENDON - Buenos Aires"

15-5 Unlisted - Leather - set in metal with brass OME

15-5 Unlisted - Leather - Snake skin - Back mark "Handy - 60"

15-5 Unlisted - Paper - Threadback

15-5 Unlisted - Papier-maché

15-5 Unlisted - Plaster of Paris

15-5 Unlisted - Plaster of Paris - Realistic shape

15-5 Unlisted - Wicker (Worked plant fibers other than wood)

- set in metal

15-5 Unlisted - Gourd

15-5 Unlisted - Coral

15-5 Unlisted - Jet - pin shank - Contour shape

15-5 Unlisted - Mineral - Magnetite

15-5 Unlisted - Pipestone - Back mark "RL"

15-5 Unlisted - Butterfly Wings set in metal - Back mark "Silver"

15-5 Unlisted - Lava set in metal - Back mark "Silver" - Linear oval shape

15-5 Unlisted - Lava set in metal - Linear oval shape

15-5 Unlisted - Meerschaum - Realistic shape

15-5 Unlisted - Vulcanite/Ebonite

Acknowledgments: Thanks to Lou Yeargain, Barbara Barrans, Pat Koehler and Nikki Deal 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's Press - 2010

(3) Warren K. Tice - Dating Buttons, A Chronology of Button Types, Makers, Retailers & Their Backmarks, 2003

Back to Button Materials

* Other Materials Buttons Worksheet in Excel