This is my mother’s old button box. The lid has a raised design–
a pheasant? partridge? peacock? When I was growing up the sides
of the box had the same raised design all around the circumference
of the box. But I guess the material became loosened and was
discarded. I don’t like to think about that, so I just concentrate on
looking at the wonderful old cover.
When I was little I spent hours and hours going through that button box.
One of my favorites was the little dark blue button that had molded
bowling pins. (My mother was in a bowling league and I suppose she
had made a blouse or something and had a couple of buttons left over to
put in the box.) Another was a white button with red lines—reminded me of our red and white kitchen table. And there was a button that had
a knot tied on top –of real leather.
One of my earliest memories is going “downstreet” with my Grandmother to visit her friend. The friend lived upstairs over a
garage, and while Grandma and her friend gabbed away, I was allowed
to look through the friend’s button box and play with them. I was about
four years old at the time I think. I wonder how many four year olds today would be content to look through a button box long enough for the
grownups to have a good chat?
I have only recently been reunited with Mom’s button box. When my
mother’s things were divided, my sister ended up with it. And when I
recently asked about it, she agreed to send it to me. I don’t know how
many, if any, of the old buttons will still be in it—it’s been a long time.
I plan to look through it leisurely, and in the meantime share some of my
other buttons that I have with you.
I love that box! Looks like a peacock on the top. Does it *sound* like it’s full of buttons?
Yes, it sounds like it is full of buttons. Well, halfway full at least . . .
Has that nice chunky, thunky sound when you shake it.