Archaeology Online

Two-holed shell button.

Shell | Object #: 1694185

Four-holed porcelain button.

Porcelain | Object #: 1694186

Two-holed porcelain button.

Porcelain | Object #: 1694187

12/14/93

Copper alloy button.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1694188

Possible waistcoat button.

Tombac button.

Tombac | Object #: 1694189

Waistcoat or large utilitarian button.

Flat disc button.

Tombac | Object #: 1694190

Coat or waistcoat button.

Copper alloy ring or frame for a Singleton button, small.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1694191

Probably for a shirt button. Copper alloy frame would have been covered in and supported thread.

Broken, copper alloy button.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1694194

Small utilitarian button.

Broken, modern button with ship's anchor.

Synthetic/Modern | Object #: 1694199

Four-holed, black rubber button.

Copper alloy button with iron back.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1694205

Button face appears to be crimped onto iron back; single hole in the center of the button with iron bar running across.

Modern button.

Synthetic/Modern | Object #: 1694209

Interior ring of possible painted or coated copper alloy inset into exterior circular plastic ring.

Silver-alloy plated copper alloy button face with stamped floral and geometric design.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1785147

This is the metal face, or front portion, of a two piece button. In this style of button, a disk of lathed bone with a beveled edge often served as a button back. The face of the button was commonly fashioned from a sheet of thin metal, usually a variety of copper alloy, which would be crimped ...

Amethyst glass sleeve button inlay with molded scalloped clam shell shape.

Glass | Object #: 1785932

This is a decorative glass inset which originally was set into the metal backing of a linked, or sleeve, button. Such insets are referred to as “pastes,” and could be colored, cut, or molded, and would have been set into metal backings. This example is an amethyst colored glass, which has been ...

Pair of cast copper alloy sleeve buttons with link.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1785993

This is a complete linked button, often referred to as a sleeve button. This example is made of cast copper alloy disks joined by a single link. Decoration could be formed through the casting process, or through engraving. In this example, the decorative elements consist of six large dots arran...

Colorless leaded faceted glass sleeve button inlay

Glass | Object #: 1786094

This is a decorative glass inset which originally was set into the metal backing of a linked, or sleeve, button. Such insets are referred to as “pastes,” and could be colored, cut, or molded, and would have been set into metal backings. This example is a leaded colorless glass, which has been s...

Colorless lead glass sleeve button inlay with molded coral branch design

Glass | Object #: 1787142

This is a decorative glass inset which originally was set into the metal backing of a linked, or sleeve, button. Such insets are referred to as “pastes,” and could be colored, cut, or molded, and would have been set into metal backings. This example is a molded, colorless, leaded glass. The dec...

Colorless glass sleeve button inlay with molded 8-pointed star design

Glass | Object #: 1787157

This is a decorative glass inset which originally was set into the metal backing of a linked, or sleeve, button. Such insets are referred to as “pastes,” and could be colored, cut, or molded, and would have been set into metal backings. This example is a molded, colorless, leaded glass. The dec...

Colorless glass sleeve button inlay with molded house, 2 trees, fence, and path.

Glass | Object #: 1787164

This is a decorative glass inset which originally was set into the metal backing of a linked, or sleeve, button. Such insets are referred to as “pastes,” and could be colored, cut, or molded, and would have been set into metal backings. This example is a molded, colorless, leaded glass. The dec...

Faceted colorless glass inset sleeve button.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1787193

Catalogued from drawing.

Bone back to waist coat button with wire eye.

Bone | Object #: 1787213

Bone button molds were disks cut from animal bone, often identifiable by the presence of a single central hole created by a cutting tool during production. The bone disk often served as the back of a two part button. In this button form, the face of the button was commonly comprised of a stampe...