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

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...

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

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...

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Faceted colorless glass inset sleeve button.

Faceted colorless glass inset sleeve button.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1787193

Catalogued from drawing.

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Bone back to waist coat button with wire eye.

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...

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Bone back to waist coat button with wire eye.

Bone back to waist coat button with wire eye.

Bone | Object #: 1787433

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...

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Bone back to coat button with wire eye.

Bone back to coat button with wire eye.

Bone | Object #: 1787434

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...

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Bone button back with carved sunburst design

Bone button back with carved sunburst design

Bone | Object #: 1787606

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...

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Gilt waist coat button with basketweave design and a bone back.

Gilt waist coat button with basketweave design and a bone back.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1787872

This a two piece button with gilt and basketweave decoration. In this style of button, a disk of lathed bone with a beveled edge often served as a button back. In the earliest examples of this style from the mid-eighteenth century such as this example, four eye holes were drilled into the bone ...

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Flat disc tombac waist coat button with iron shank.

Flat disc tombac waist coat button with iron shank.

Tombac | Object #: 1787900

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 ...

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Flat disc waist coat button with iron shank.

Flat disc waist coat button with iron shank.

Tombac | Object #: 1788229

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 iron wire which was inserted into the mold as the button was cast. Once solidified, the casting lines and ex...

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Unidentifiable copper alloy button

Unidentifiable copper alloy button

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1788231

This is the metal back of a two piece button. In this style of button, the face, or cover, of the button was commonly fashioned from a sheet of thin metal, usually a variety of copper alloy. Backings for these buttons provided both strength and a method of attaching the button to clothing, eith...

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Copper alloy 2-piece button back.

Copper alloy 2-piece button back.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1788235

This is the metal back of a two piece button. In this style of button, the face, or cover, of the button was commonly fashioned from a sheet of thin metal, usually a variety of copper alloy. Backings for these buttons provided both strength and a method of attaching the button to clothing, eith...

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2-piece button with wooden back

2-piece button with wooden back

Wood | Object #: 1788309

This is the hardwood back of a two piece button. In this style of button, the face, or cover, of the button was commonly fashioned from a sheet of thin metal, usually a variety of copper alloy. Backings for these buttons provided both strength and a method of attaching the button to clothing, e...

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Coat button with Sheffield plate silver face.

Coat button with Sheffield plate silver face.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1788365

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, cut into the approximat...

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2-piece "Death Head" button face with silver/tin plating.

2-piece "Death Head" button face with silver/tin plating.

Copper/Copper Alloy | Object #: 1788584

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 ...

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Cast domed pewter waist coat button with "H" and "P" touch mark

Cast domed pewter waist coat button with "H" and "P" touch mark

Pewter | Object #: 1789039

This is a one piece cast pewter button with a domed face. Pewter was an alloy used throughout the eighteenth century, and was comprised of tin and either copper, antimony, or lead. The low melting point of pewter meant that it was easy to cast in molds. Evidence of the casting process can be se...

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Carved bone coat button back with beveled edge and one eye.

Carved bone coat button back with beveled edge and one eye.

Bone | Object #: 1789040

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 core to either a cloth covered or a two part metal button. In cloth covered buttons, the bone mold served as ...

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Carved bone coat button back with beveled edge and one eye.

Carved bone coat button back with beveled edge and one eye.

Bone | Object #: 1789047

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 core to either a cloth covered or a two part metal button. In cloth covered buttons, the bone mold served as ...

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Carved bone coat button back with beveled edge and one eye.

Carved bone coat button back with beveled edge and one eye.

Bone | Object #: 1789049

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 core to either a cloth covered or a two part metal button. In cloth covered buttons, the bone mold served as ...

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Carved bone button back with beveled edge and one eye.

Carved bone button back with beveled edge and one eye.

Bone | Object #: 1789052

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 core to either a cloth covered or a two part metal button. In cloth covered buttons, the bone mold served as ...

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