Wednesday, 21 December 2011

Peasant Silver Buttons

I recently bought some interesting silver link buttons and was hoping to find out more about them, when I came across this superb book on the subject: "A Collector's Guide to Peasant Silver Buttons" By Jane Perry. It has opened up a whole new field of interest in button collecting and knowledge for me.


The book is a large paperback, illustrated throughout with clear black & white photographs of buttons. The author has divided the book into sections about:-
  • Flat and other one-piece buttons
  • Domed buttons
  • Filigree buttons
  • Round or contoured buttons
  • Appendices (covering terminology, silver marks and dating etc)
The buttons are grouped by country or geographical region, covering Europe, Asia and the Americas, which made it simple to identify the origin of the buttons I had purchased. The buttons were normally used to fasten men's jackets and waistcoats.

This one is from Dalmatia.

The next two are Spanish.



And this one is Croatian.


The book is very clearly written and will certainly help me to better describe these buttons if and when I decide to sell them. Jane also keeps a useful up-to-date guide to prices for these buttons, (which she will email to purchasers of the book on request). The guide prices are reached by keeping an average of prices achieved at auctions and sales during the previous year.
Have a lovely Christmas folks!
Posted by Julia of Love Buttons HQ

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