Archaeology Online

Copper alloy domed collar button with concentric ring design.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1789441

Identical to shank of incomplete collar button 1796770. Measurements slightly off due to conservation. Copper alloy face filled with pewter on the interior to connect stud with face.

Copper alloy collar button shank.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1796770

Stud shank to collar button. Identical to shank of collar button 1789441.

Copper alloy flat disc coat button.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1796817

On display at the International Museum of Slavery, Liverpool. Catalogued from drawings.

Cast flat disc pewter waist coat button.

Pewter | Object #: 1796839

On display at International Museum of Slavery, Liverpool. Catalogued from drawings.

Copper alloy button ring button, medium.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1800019

This ring is a simple length of copper alloy wiring which is soldered to form a circular core upon which thread or textile swatches were stretched to create cloth covered buttons. Often, extra fabric material was gathered at the rear to serve as a shank to attach the button to items of clothing...

Copper alloy button ring, small, with preserved thread impression around frame.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1800055

This ring is a simple length of copper alloy wiring which is soldered to form a circular core upon which thread or textile swatches were stretched to create cloth covered buttons. In this example, the corrosion of the copper alloy has preserved the impressions of the threads that once were used...

Partial tinned singleton button, small.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1800268

2 fragments. Diameter around 11.8mm

Copper alloy coat button with shank cast in boss.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1800280

This is a one piece metal button, which archaeologists often refer to as “flat disc” buttons. One piece buttons were often made of copper alloys. The shank of this button was a length of copper alloy wire which was inserted into the mold as the button was cast. This style of introducing the sha...

Tombac coat button with shank cast in boss.

Tombac | Object #: 1800311

This is a one piece metal button, which archaeologists often refer to as “flat disc” buttons. One piece buttons were often made of copper alloys. This particular example is cast tombac as denoted by the “grey” coloration seen below the corrosion on the button face. Tombac is an alloy of copper ...

Copper alloy waist coat button with shank cast in boss.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1800327

Copper alloy waistcoat button with shank cast in boss.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1800331

Copper alloy button ring, small.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1802408

This ring is a simple length of copper alloy wiring which is soldered to form a circular core upon which thread or textile swatches were stretched to create cloth covered buttons. Often, extra fabric material was gathered at the rear to serve as a shank to attach the button to items of clothing...

Copper alloy button ring, small.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1802412

This ring is a simple length of copper alloy wiring which is soldered to form a circular core upon which thread or textile swatches were stretched to create cloth covered buttons. Often, extra fabric material was gathered at the rear to serve as a shank to attach the button to items of clothing...

Copper alloy button ring, small.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1802415

This ring is a simple length of copper alloy wiring which is soldered to form a circular core upon which thread or textile swatches were stretched to create cloth covered buttons. Often, extra fabric material was gathered at the rear to serve as a shank to attach the button to items of clothing...

Copper alloy button ring, small.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1802422

This ring is a simple length of copper alloy wiring which is soldered to form a circular core upon which thread or textile swatches were stretched to create cloth covered buttons. Often, extra fabric material was gathered at the rear to serve as a shank to attach the button to items of clothing...

copper alloy button ring, small.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1802425

This ring is a simple length of copper alloy wiring which is soldered to form a circular core upon which thread or textile swatches were stretched to create cloth covered buttons. Often, extra fabric material was gathered at the rear to serve as a shank to attach the button to items of clothing...

2 piece convex bone button back fragment with 2 visible eyes.

Bone | Object #: 1833384

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...

2 piece bone button back fragment with one visible eye.

Bone | Object #: 1833609

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...

Stamped copper alloy button face with star, geometric, and floral design.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1833654

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 ...

Tombac flat disc coat button face.

Tombac | Object #: 1834791

Gray color beneath green corrosion and on break.