How old are these buttons?

kimonswanson643

Full Member
Jul 29, 2013
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I found these at a house and was wondering how old and just what the were like the manufacture and any others info on them if you would please. The back is iron and one looked like the shank rusted away but the other is still there and has a square shank I think.
 

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Nice buttons they look to be fashion buttons from the late 19th century. I'm sure one of the gurus will chime in.

Sent from my iPod touch using TreasureNet
 

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The larger of your brass fronted ironbacked buttons has what is called a "self-shank" back... which did not exist on 2-piece (or 3-piece) buttons until the very-early 1900s. See the photos below, showing two versions of self-shank backs.

Your other button's "ornate" front has characteristics (such as the multiple "dimpling" encircling its raised center) that date as far back as the mid-1830s, and seem to have been produced onward into the 1870s. I believe your button is most likely to be from the first half of that time-range.
 

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