Isn’t this a nice button? It dates to about 1870 and was
probably used on a dress. The figure is brass, . . .
with a deep purple velvet background and
surrounded by a brass ring.
Sometimes buttons with velvet were used as
“perfume” buttons. Ladies would sprinkle the velvet
backing with perfume to carry the scent all day. I don’t
know if one of this size — 7/8″–would have been used for
that purpose. Usually, the perfume buttons are smaller.
The other featured button today is again, a brass profile of
a lady and I think this one is on a black leather background
with a wide brass ring surrounding the whole. It is a “large”
button, measuring 1 3/8 inch in diameter. Let’s call it
Victorian in age, shall we?
Both of these pretty buttons have a plain tin back with a
plain loop for a shank.
Each of these buttons is considered a “picture” button and
some collectors specialize in this type, and even narrow their
search for specific categories of picture buttons–like
nursery rhymes–or ladies!
I think some of you are falling off the NBW wagon, (oh, you two
are still here? ) but I must go on—-tomorrow, Part 6, will
feature 3 ladies—secret theme (!)–and we’ll end the week with
a potpourri of lady buttons that didn’t fit in anywhere else.