Antique Japanese enamel buttons made using the technique known as gin bari. A bird in flight, which looks like a crane with a touch of red to its head, is placed over a background of turquoise textured foil, fading to silver. The whole is covered in a layer of clear enamel. Each bird is slightly different. The rim looks like silver (unmarked). Brass back and loop shank. Slight discolouration to some of the turquoise near the edge, which occurs during manufacture. Otherwise, generally in good vintage condition. A lovely collectable - birds are even less common than the gin bari flowers. Price is per button.

Size 13/16” (2.1 cm)

Vintage/antique Arts & Crafts style ceramic buttons with a gorgeous blue-green mottled glaze. Oval shape and flat back with a metal loop shank inserted directly into the body. Price is per button

Size 1.1” (2.7 cm) long

Silver filigree button, hollow shape, the top decorated with coil rings and granules, the back with circles of wire within a loop. Attached by twisted wire link to crossover wire bar or toggle. Typical of buttons from Dalmatia (now part of Croatia and Montenegro) because of the pyramid shaped knop with undercut base. Probably late 19th or early 20th century. Condition is vintage with a couple of dinks, and would benefit from a careful clean, but an interesting collectable.

Size 7/8” (2.2 cm) diameter

(Ref Jane Perry’s Collectors Guide to Peasant Silver Buttons 3.1.q)

Small vintage glass buttons, moonglow effect centre, and molded rim highlighted with gold lustre. Self shank. Price is per button

Size 1/2” (1.3 cm)

Early English silver button, hand engraved and decorated with the initials JC, amongst scrolls of foliage. Flat back and thick shank. Backmarked with the maker’s initials FM and the lion for sterling silver. No Assay office stamp, nor date letter, so probably 18th century or very early 19th. Good size and charming decoration. Very nice collectable.

Size 1.2” (3.1 cm)

Pretty enamel buttons, blue champleve enamel panels around a central circle overpainted with tiny pink rose. The dividing brass lines and rim are embellished with tiny leaves and scrolls. Brass back and loop shank. Probably French, late 19th or early 20th century. The last photo shows 8 buttons but top 2 are slightly damaged and not included in this listing. Price is per button

Size 9/16” (1.4 cm)

Vintage/antique yellow glass button, oval shape with muted coloured swirls in the glass forming flower shapes, with a gold aventurine stalk. Four-way metal box shank

Size 15/16” (2.3 cm) long

Vintage/antique mother of pearl button, shimmering white, square shape with fish-eye centre and notched rims. Price is per button

Size 7/8” (2.2 cm) square or 1.2” (3 cm) diagonally

Antique mother of pearl button, delicately engraved with a rose on dotted background, surrounded by four feathery C-scrolls, filled in with gold paint. Iridescent, shimmering white pearl. Four-way metal box shank. Slight tarnish/wear to the gold but still a lovely collectable.

Size 7/8” (2.2 cm)

Vintage white ceramic ball button, with a creamy striped glaze, decorated with a circle of tiny pink flowers around the top. Flattened unglazed back with tunnel shank.

Size 11/16” (1.7 cm) diameter

Small enamel dress button, with pearly white basse taille enamel on a silver base. Flat back with loop shank. Back stamped 925 with a star mark.

Size 9/16” (1.4 cm)

Large vintage black button, with worked or finely woven rim surrounding a crochet spiral in the centre. Woven edges are held in place by linen cross threads on the back, which also pass through the metal loop shank. Possibly machine made but interesting construction.

Size 1.4” (3.6 cm)

Pair of large sporting buttons with stud type shank. They each have a different view of a pair of hunting dogs, well modelled in high relief. The first has two dogs joined by a leash, and the second shows the dogs with a bird or hare on the ground. The images are silver plated on copper, with a hollow centre, two-part construction with brass back and stud type shank. Price is for the pair.

Size 1.3” (3.3 cm)

Handsome Golden Age buttons, gilt brass with a pattern of flowers and leaves punched into the flat surface. The intaglio flowers and leaves have a matt finish while the flat top is polished to a glossy finish. Backstamped ORANGE GILT STANDARD COLOUR. Flat shape and metal loop shank. Price is per button

Size 7/8” (2.2 cm)

Small vintage buttons, covered in cream fabric over a solid base, and decorated with polychrome embroidered flowers round the rim. Metal back and pad shank. Charming buttons from a bygone age. Price is per button

Size 11/16” (1.7 cm)

Lovely vintage coat buttons, silvery-grey mother of pearl, with wide raised rim. Colours vary slightly due to natural variations in the pearl. Natural dark shell back, and 4 sewing holes. Price is per button

Size 1.2” (3 cm)

Vintage/antique metal buttons with a textured bronze coloured surface. The centre looks like imitation fabric, surrounded by a border with stamped raised flower motifs in a circle, like a wreath or garland. Gilded metal back (slightly rubbed) and metal loop shank

Size 7/8” (2.2 cm)