Page 44 - October1997

I

cl

@ o

/a

c+-lB c7

w[.',.ffit
*tJ"
c,8 c9 Li()

6& s

sfi6

tl C12 ct3 C,+

Beaded (or Pebbled) Circlet. One could stir up a spirited argument as to whether these small,
ring-shaped, ornaments should be designated as "bracelets" or as "collars". It therefore seems the bet-
ter part of valor to bypass the anatomical implications and settle for the noncommittal term of "c:ir:
e.lgl". They are always stamped with a ring of tiny embossed welts which strongly suggest a string of
beads, or which might simply be described as "pebbling". In the process of embedding a circlet at a
button's apex, enough glass was usually forced out through the opening to form a pronounced tip. This,
however, is a characteristic which varies from button to button and anyhing, from a high point to none
at all may be found. The buttons ornamented with circlets are all swirlbacks. The size range ofthe
group is negligible, the great majority ofthe buttons measuring approximately 7/16 ofan inch in diam-
eter.
C-1. The simplest button of the group is a smooth dome, approximately the upper half of a
sphere. It is found in plain white and is shown in an unusual swirled green and pink glass. Neither spec-
imen boasts any overlay trim.
C-2. This conical shape with five dots ofoverlay trim is, except for C-10, the most familiar type
ofbutton in the circlet eroup. It appears in numerous colors, both transparent and opaque, with white
dots. It seems probable that it was also made in white glass with dots of colored overlay trim but, rather
surprisingly, no such combination tumed up in the course ofthis survey.
C-3. Inspiration must have been running low when the button makers created this button, a plain
thick disk with the circlet pressed down in the top to produce a sort ofdoughnut shape with a tip forced