Button Question/Quiz

[amandainvermont]

In August my friend Matthew came over from France to attend the National Button Society Convention in Appleton, Wisconsin. Part of the event is competing for first place with cards of buttons in many different categories. He did win first place with two cards, which I will show in another post. This card is for the "Buttons AFTER 1918" and because of one button he was disqualified. So the quiz is - which button on this card is earlier than 1918 according to the expert judges. The one I picked, shown separately, was the wrong choice.

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

I will go with the carved bird button.

 

[Metro Retro Vintage]

I will pick the one above the bird's tail, with the green and red trim.

 

[thespectrum]

Can you show a slightly larger pic of the whole card?

 

[amandainvermont]

This is the best I can do - screen shots from his e-mail.

 

[INVINTAGEV]

One with the pearl and strass (red/blu) around

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

Just a guess, is it the small opalescent moonstone looking one with the tiny brass leaf overlay?

 

[Linn]

This one?

 

[amandainvermont]

OK - I will direct him to this thread. Perhaps he will answer, or at the very least, he will tell me the answer.

 

[INVINTAGEV]

yes no pearl sorry but opalescent stone

 

[BonniesVintageClothesLine]

Small round one that I think says "operculum"

 

[amandainvermont]

The answer from the button man -

I had a very quick peek at the discussion on the VFG. I don't remember all the guesses, but most of them were buttons that are post-WW II. The one with the rhinestone border is probably 50s or 60's, the one with the brass feather (not a leaf) is probably also 50s. Both of those are sure to date from that period, as they are by known button designers. The one with the dangly red and green glass is a bit more difficult... could be 30s, could be post-war. The button you chose is probably the oldest among the guesses, as I would date it to the 30s.

The "correct" answer is the large button with the bow in the lower right corner. To me, the bow is very "loosely" drawn and looks more "modern" (I was thinking 20s, also based on the size of the button). The judges (and I'm guessing about their reasoning) thought that the technique -- the bow is a separate piece of pearl that is attached to the pearl base with steel pins -- would only have been used on an earlier button. I think it's a fair difference of opinion!