List of raw materials used in button-making explained

Please see external links for images of buttons (front & back) made from the material(s) in question. ("NBS name" refers to labelling used by the National Button Society, USA.)

animal-derived

• bone
• horn^[1]
• horsehair^[2]
• ivory^[1]
• leather^[1]
• pearl
• shell ^{(Images of buttons made from all the shell types listed below)}

seashells:

land shells:

• emerald green snail shell

Rocks and minerals (or predominantly mineral-derived substances)

• bauxite
• catlinite
• cinnabar^[1]
• coal^[3]
• enamel^[4]
• glass^{[5] [6]}
• gypsum (a.k.a. plaster of Paris)^[1]
• marcasite
• metals:^[7]

aluminium

brass^[8]

pot metal

sterling silver

steel^[9]

• whiteware ceramics:https://web.archive.org/web/20100605130626/http://www.buttoncountry.com/Ceramics1.htm

earthenware^[10]

• china^{[11] [12]}

Synthetic materials

synthetic fibres

• synthetic textiles

See also

• Button collecting
• History of technology
• Seashells in personal adornment

Bibliography

• Book: Luscomb, Sally C.. The Collector's Encyclopedia of Buttons. Schiffer. Atglen, PA. 2003. 242. 0-7643-1815-2. 2003101645.
• Book: Osborne, Peggy A.. Button, button : identification and price guide. Schiffer. Atglen, PA. 1997. 167. 0-7643-0082-2 . 92063104.
• Book: Peacock, Primrose. Rosemary Godsell (illus.). Discovering old buttons. Shire Publications. Aylesbury, UK. 1978. Discovering series ; no. 213. 76. 0-85263-445-5. registration.
• Book: Wisniewski, Debra J.. Charley Lynch. Antique & collectible buttons : identification & values. Collector Books. Paducah, KY. 1997. 168. 0-89145-711-9. 97122120.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Other Materials (Section 15). Button Country. 2010. buttoncountry.com. 6 March 2010. Georgia, USA. https://web.archive.org/web/20100605131056/http://www.buttoncountry.com/othermaterials.htm. 5 June 2010. dead. (To view reverse of button, hover mouse over image.)
2. Book: Luscomb, Sally C.. The Collector's Encyclopedia of Buttons, p.100. Schiffer. Atglen, PA. 2003. 242. 0-7643-1815-2. 2003101645.
3. Book: Luscomb, Sally C.. The Collector's Encyclopedia of Buttons, p.42-43. Schiffer. Atglen, PA. 2003. 242. 0-7643-1815-2. 2003101645.
4. Web site: Enamel . 2010-03-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100605130808/http://www.buttoncountry.com/enamel-1.htm . 2010-06-05 .
5. Web site: Black Glass . 2010-03-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100605131000/http://www.buttoncountry.com/BlackGlass1.htm . 2010-06-05 .
6. Web site: Clear/Colored Glass . 2010-03-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100605130701/http://www.buttoncountry.com/clearcolored.htm . 2010-06-05 .
7. Web site: Metals . 2010-03-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101011051647/http://www.buttoncountry.com/metals.htm . 2010-10-11 .
8. Web site: Back Mark Types . 2010-03-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100325012722/http://www.buttoncountry.com/back_mark_types.htm . 2010-03-25 .
9. http://www.ohiobuttons.org/WinningTrays/2009_Winners/Trays/Tray16.jpg
10. Web site: Tin-glazed earthenware livery-button, ca 1651. Victoria, Albert museum. Victoria and Albert Museum. V&A Jewellery collection. V&A Images. 10 March 2010. London, UK.
11. Web site: China . 2010-03-07 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100605131021/http://www.buttoncountry.com/china.htm . 2010-06-05 .
12. Web site: The China Button Exchange.