Mother of Pearl Buttons:
The need to fasten is almost as old as clothing. Of course, this is
mostly done with knots, pins, hooks, loops, and anything else that
can hold two layers of fabric or leather together. The first
buttons appeared in the Bronze Age. The oldest were found in the
Indus Valley, in what is now India. They are made of any kind of
material that is easy to work with.
Today, various shell buttons reflect the steady use of natural
materials in recent decades. Shells are the raw material from which
they are made, and their composition is very close to that of real
pearls. It is secreted by molluscs to make the shell perfectly
smooth and to protect itself from the irritating effects of foreign
bodies and parasites that enter the shell. Actually it represents
calcium carbonate flakes arranged parallel to the surface. The
layers are separated by sheets of elastic biopolymer that
contribute to the strength of the shell. When you choose shell
buttons, keep in mind that there is very little difference between
them and real pearls. In pearls, the lamellae of calcium carbonate
are aligned perpendicular to the surface and radially with the
stimuli that later transform into pearl nuclei. The shell color may
vary from dark to white, depending on the type of mollusk that
produced it. It is characterized by changes in brightness and color
as the viewing angle changes. Seashells have been used for
thousands of years for different purposes, from mediums of exchange
to impressive materials for jewelry, cameos and art objects, and of
course, exquisite shell buttons.
What makes these buttons so iconic is their unrivaled pearl luster.
Mother-of-pearl buttons are darker than plastic buttons. Due to
their noble creamy sheen, it takes one look to distinguish them
from any other buttons.
So you think you know all about them? Here are 5 facts that will
make you look at good old mother of pearl buttons in a whole
different light:
In the early 20th century, 37 percent of buttons were made from the
shells of freshwater molluscs found in the Mississippi River.
The business was started in the United States by German button
maker John Frederick Boepple.
Production peaked in 1905 at approximately 1.5 billion buttons!
Leftover shells are used to pave the streets of Muscatine, Iowa.
Ease of production, shell buttons have been used throughout
pre-industrial cultures and Victorian times.
History of the brilliant Pearl buttons:
The shiny appearance of the pearl attracted the attention of
the ancient people since the dawn of civilization. It shined in
various colours at the sunlight with sheer significance and beauty.
That is why pearl quickly found their place as decoration on the
garments. There was only one step further from their decorative
value to their fastening function, and this step was made in a
short time. Another important factor for the appearance of the
beautiful pearl buttons was that pearls are processed easily and
could be found in abundant quantities.
Many centuries have passed, during which time they were forgotten
at times, and at times again become fashionable. Since the middle
ages they have taken permanent place on our clothes. There have
been periods when dozens and hundreds of them were used. There is a
well-known royal garment of Francis I, which was trimmed with more
than 13,000 buttons. They were regarded as a sign for social and
wealth status and were available only to certain circles of
society.
In recent times the small pearl buttons become a scene for the
mastery of artists, engravers and jewellers. Often they were
transformed into works of art for which collectors were reluctant
pay substantial amounts.