Buttons from London

The Button Queen, 76 Marylebone Lane, London

One of our first forays in London was to a button store, of course–having
already bought a book the evening before . . .So we went to The Button Queen–
which I had seen on a YouTube video before I came.   I was mainly interested in
old buttons, but found some modern goodies, too.  My daughter took a photo of
a plaque some industrious person had created:  (Click to enlarge . . .)

at The Button Queen

and I selected some buttons to show you—here, a bunch of brass buttons
that are all backmarked (yea!)–and the little red one is a Admiral Nelson
reproduction.  “He” is backmarked London Badge and Button.  Then–do
you see it?–is the Northern Ferry Drivers button!–new, backmarked
FIRMAN–a current company specializing in reproductions; and an old
button with two griffins backmarked–backmarked WYON 287 Regent St,
London—an early mark from 1838-1842, and lastly a crest of some kind
backmarked GAUNT London which is an old firm, but this button probably
only dates to the 1950’s or so.  Eventually the Gaunt firm was part of
the Firmin group in Birmingham.

brass buttons from The Button Queen

griffins?

backmarks for Nelson button and North Ferry drivers button

WYON and GAUNT London backmarks

All those brass buttons are a little over an inch in diameter.

Still with me?   All right, now for the pretties . . .

glass pretties from The Button Queen, black one about an inch in d.

And the rest of the buttons I bought there—with a nice black velvet centered
one in upper corner, with a small glass decorated one.

buttons from The Button Queen, London

The dark amber diamond shaped button is about 2 1/2 inches, and the little
bow about 1/2 inch.

Which is your favorite button?  Do you want to know mine?  I’m pretty fond
of the Admiral Lord Nelson button, (because I have a soft spot in my heart for
Lord Nelson) and I like all the backmarks, but silly as I
am, I like the little blue bow best!

Ha! Even the Button Queen bag is pretty cute:

the paper bag from The Button Queen shop in London

Stay tuned for more news and views from London!