I so love the button; they can be a cynosure of a design. There are quotes about pushing people’s buttons, metaphors using buttons, such as, ‘he is cute as a button.’ I’m talking the real deal here; buttons to close or release something on a garment. I have acquired quite a collection, well over 2,000, from endearing friends. I like to know what they are made from. Mother of Pearl is easy to identify due to the rich iridescence shell. They buttons accept dye readily; the plastic look alike do not. They also taste different! Yes, sometimes I taste buttons to distinguish plastic from Bakelite or shell. In my life I will never use all these buttons. Please feel free to contact me about putting some on a garment or hat for YOU!
Sand dollar Mother of Pearl
Various shades of white is common with mother of pearl buttons – 2 hole, 4 hole and shanks
Metal button dating to early 1900’s- Bee Hive, flowers and inlaid mother of pearl.
A Nautical Theme
Silk Screened images on a covered button with a shank
Cord Covered buttons with fabric shank (top view) rosette ( bottom view)
Lucky number 7 dominoes
Unusual shaped Glass buttons and mother of pearl circles
Whaa? these are the strangest plastic buttons for application. I used them for decoration on the front of a dress once. They seriously must have a special use; anyone know this button’s history?
various plastic buttons. Lacey one from the late 1940’s
Green Wood square buttons and Bakelite circle shapes
Light aqua mother of pearl and hexagonal plastic- circa 1930’s
Resin molded buttons
Plastic airplane buttons- 1950’s
Beveled mother of pearl 
Wooden Squirrel pull changes for clothing 
A plastic button I used for printing and had copied for a logo stamp.
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