Page 43 - October1997

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Fancy Tip. This small category is something of a catch-all, for it comprehends, not only buttons
showing three different tlpes of back and shank construction, but four varieties of yellow metal tip
omaments as well,-stamped disks, openwork rosettes, stars, and settings for paste "stones".
B-1. The thin ornamental disk, suggesting a tiny center ring, sunounded by a circle of still small-
er rings, is set at the top of a plain low convex button. This modest little swirlback is oftransparent red
glass, is devoid ofany other decoration, and is one ofthe smallest buttons in the whole class, measur-
ingjust over 3/8 ofan inch in diameter.
B-2. Here is a more imaginative creation of the button maker. Of swirlback construction, the but-
ton is hexagonal. with a flat ton and sloping sides. The omamental disk, stamped in a sunburst design
ofsorts, is sunk in a well in the button's top. The most familiar version ofthis button has a bright opaque
blue body, with a white-bordered band of red overlay trim halfway down the sides. Other specimens
noted have a transparent dark green body with a red and white band, and a fansparent light green body
with a single white band.
B-3. This unusually large omament takes the form of a six petaled rosette. The six tiny oval win-
dows grouped around the center permit the transparent red glass of the body to show through.
B-4. The perforated and beaded metal omament covers virtually the entire top surface ofthe but-
ton. The transparent lavender glass ofthe body is to be seen through a small porthole at the center and
through the eight portholes on the sides.
B-5. This yellow metal ornament takes the form of a five-point star in fairly high relief. The body
shape is that ofA-14-a; the color is opaque blue ofa fairly light hue, and the shank is a pigtail. The but-
ton measures approximately 7/1 6 ofan inch in diameter and is scarce to the point that only one has been
reported.
8-6. This button is remarkable both for its shape and for the fact that it is the one ofonly two cases
of the multiple use of omamentation encountered in this study. The omaments are tiny flat five-point
stars, one set in the north pole ofthe spherical white button and the others at the four quarters ofthe
compass around the equator. The yellow metal loop shank is set in a relatively large shank plate. Being
slightly more than halfan inch both in height and diameter, this rare button is one ofthe bulkiest in the
whole class.
B-7-a. The purist may find this button an interloper here, but it is too curious a hybrid to be omit-
ted. A yellow metal disk is embedded in the crown, it is true, but it is shaped into a cup with five small
prongs to hold a 'diamond' paste setting. Thus the metal plays onl)' a supoorting part, while the starring
role in the omamentation is taken by the imitation jewel. Here the paste-in-metal tip appears on a but-
ton of the shape of A- l4-a in cobalt glass with a band of white overlay trim. Also seen in amber.
B-7-b. Is similar in type to A-14-a and b but here the ribs number 5 or 7 sharply defined channels.
B-8. The paste-in-metal omament has been noted as well in fluted buttons similar to A-15, one in
dark opaque blue with a white band (shown), and another opaque pink with white band. Pronged paste
centers have been seen in red and green paste on buttons of the styles ofA- 1, A-4 and A- I l-b.