How to engage the slide show:
click on the first image on the left of the gallery below, then select the arrow at the bottom left of the enlarged image. Or you can manually go to the next slide by hovering your cursor on the middle right side then clicking the arrow that appears. Hover your cursor on the middle left side then click the arrow that appears to go backwards. Close the slide show or manual show by clicking the X button on the lower right of the image. (The image of each button is followed by an image of that button's back or reverse side.)
Acknowledgments, References and information for this category are at the bottom of this page.
Button Country
An Educational Resource for Button Collectors - originally created by Paul Rice
Section 22 : Patterns, Symbols
22-1.1 All-over patterns - enamel with cut-steel OME
22-1.1 All-over patterns - Piquepoint
22-1.1 All-over patterns - enamel
22-1.1 All-over patterns - matte black glass
22-1.1 All-over patterns - glass in metal
22-1.1 All-over patterns - enamel
22-1.1 All-over patterns - snake skin
22-1.1 All-over patterns - china calico
22-1.1 All-over patterns - enamel with paste OME
22-1.1 All-over patterns - enamel
22-1.1 All-over patterns - horn with metal inlay
22-1.1 All-over patterns - celluloid
22-1.1 All-over patterns - black glass
22-1.1 All-over patterns
22-1.1 All-over patterns - enamel
22-1.1 All-over patterns - Metal with rhinestone
22-1.1 All-over patterns - brass set in polymer
22-1.1 All-over patterns - Enamel fleur-de-lis - 1 1/16"
22-1.1 All-over patterns - Porcelain - 3/4"
22-1.1 All-over patterns - Nylon - 5/8"
22-1.1 All-over patterns - brass in a steel-cup
22-1.1 All-over patterns - brass
22-1.1 All-over patterns - tinted brass
22-1.1 All-over patterns - Yellow metal - 15/16"
22-1.1 All-over patterns - transfer on pearl
22-1.1 All-over patterns - amino resin
22-1.1 All-over pattern Border - shell center
22-1.1.1 Plaid - glass
22-1.1.1 Plaid - enamel center
22-1.1.1 Plaid - fabric under shield set in metal
22-1.1.1 Plaid - vegetable ivory
22-1.1.1 Plaid - composition
22-1.1.1 Plaid - vegetable ivory
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Loops - horn with brass & paste OME
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Looped border - Victorian celluloid
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Loops - tinted metal
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Loops - white glass with gold luster
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Loops - brass with pastes
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Loops - black glass
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Looped center - steel
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Loops - black glass
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Loops - black glass with silver luster
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - scrolls - black glass
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - scrolls - Victorian celluloid
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - scrolls - yellow metal
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - scrolls - tortoise with brass
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - "C" scrolls - Design Under Glass
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - "C" scrolls - brass with cut-steel OME
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - "C" scrolls - pearl in metal
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - "C" scrolls - black glass + silver luster
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - "C" scrolls - white glass
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - "S" scrolls - shell
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Vermiform - white metal
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Vermiform - molded horn
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Vermiform - celluloid
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Vermiform border - yellow metal
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Vermiform - china calico
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Vermiform center - metal
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Wavy Lines - black glass moonglow
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Wavy Lines - celluloid set in metal
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Wavy Lines - white metal
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Wavy Lines - vegetable ivory
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Wavy Lines - fabric
22-1.2 Curvilinear designs - Wavy Lines - black glass with silver luster
22-1.2.1 Filigree - yellow metal with cut-steel OME
22-1.2.1 Filigree - silver with gemstones
22-1.2.1 Filigree - yellow metal
22-1.2.1 Filigree - unmarked silver
22-1.2.1 Filigree - brass with cut-steel OME
22-1.2.1 Filigree - brass with pastes
22-1.2.2 Fleur-de-lis - enamel border
22-1.2.2 Fleur-de-lis - glass with carnival luster
22-1.2.2 Fleur-de-lis - white metal
22-1.2.2 Fleur-de-lis - enamel
22-1.2.2 Fleur-de-lis - metalized polymer
22-1.2.2 Fleur-de-lis - silvered metal
22-1.2.2 Fleur-de-lis - yellow metal
22-1.2.2 Fleur-de-lis - horn
22-1.2.2 Fleur-de-lis - velvet background set in metal
22-1.2.2 Fleur-de-lis - brass
22-1.2.2 Fleur-de-lis - French white metal
22-1.2.2 Fleur-de-lis - steel with gilt DF
22-1.2.3 Heart - pink glass
22-1.2.3 Heart - enamel border
22-1.2.3 Heart - black glass
22-1.2.3 Heart - yellow metal with rhinestone OME
22-1.2.3 Heart - metal
22-1.2.3 Heart - white metal with openwork
22-1.2.4 Paisley - black glass
22-1.2.4 Paisley - white glass
22-1.2.4 Paisley - Victorian celluloid
22-1.2.4 Paisley - black glass
22-1.2.4 Paisley - white glass
22-1.2.4 Paisley - black glass
22-1.2.5 Spiral/coil - polymer cookie
22-1.2.5 Spiral/coil - silver
22-1.2.5 Spiral/coil - glass wafer
22-1.2.5 Spiral/coil - yellow metal
22-1.2.5 Spiral/coil - plastic
22-1.2.5 Spiral/coil - white metal - movable
22-1.2.6 Stylized plant forms - black glass with silver luster
22-1.2.6 Stylized plant forms - enamel with cut-steel OME
22-1.2.6 Stylized plant forms - lacy glass set in metal
22-1.2.6 Stylized plant forms - buffed celluloid
22-1.2.6 Stylized plant forms - black glass
22-1.3.1 Geometric designs - Circle - white metal
22-1.3.1 Geometric designs - Circle - Horn - glass & cut-steel OME
22-1.3.1 Geometric designs - Circle - black glass
22-1.3.1 Geometric designs - Circle - enamel with paste border
22-1.3.1 Geometric designs - Circle - celluloid set in metal
22-1.3.1 Geometric designs - Circle - bone
22-1.3.1 Geometric designs - Circle segments - horn & shell
22-1.3.1 Geometric designs - Circle segments - polymer
22-1.3.1 Geometric designs -Circle segments & circles - black glass tile
22-1.3.1 Geometric designs - Circle segments & crescents - casein with bakelite OME
22-1.3.2 Geometric designs - Three sided figure - triangle - shell
22-1.3.2 Geometric designs - 3-sided figure - triangle - black glass
22-1.3.2 Geometric designs - Three sided figure - triangle - brass
22-1.3.2 Geometric designs - Three sided figure - triangle - polymer
22-1.3.2 Geometric designs - 3-sided figure - triangle - green glass
22-1.3.2 Geometric designs - 3-sided figure - triangle - fabric & brass
22-1.3.3 Geometric designs - 4-sided figures - diamond - casein
22-1.3.3 Geometric designs - 4-sided figures - diamond - Saphiret
22-1.3.3 Geometric designs - 4-sided figures - diamond - celluloid
22-1.3.3 Geometric designs - 4-sided figures - square - glass in metal
22-1.3.3 Geometric designs - 4-sided figures - square - celluloid
22-1.3.3 Geometric designs - 4-sided figures - square - enamel
22-1.3.3 Geometric designs - 4-sided figures - square - wood
22-1.3.3 Geometric designs - 4-sided figures - rectangle - wafer
22-1.3.3 Geometric designs - 4-sided figures - rectangle - polymer
22-1.3.3 Geometric designs - 4-sided figures - rectangle - shell
22-1.3.3 Geometric designs - 4-sided figures - rectangle - celluloid
22-1.3.4 Geometric designs - 5-sided figures - pentagon - satin glass
22-1.3.4 Geometric designs - 5-sided figures - pentagon - black glass
22-1.3.4 Geometric designs - 6-sided figures - hexagon - wood
22-1.3.4 Geometric designs - 6-sided figures - hexagon - VI
22-1.3.4 Geometric designs - 6-sided figures - hexagon - Masonite
22-1.3.4 Geometric designs - 8-sided figures - octagon - shell
22-1.3.4 Geometric designs - 8-sided figures - octagon - black glass
22-1.3.5 Geometric designs - Quilt-like designs - glass in glass
22-1.3.5 Geometric designs - Quilt-like designs - glass in metal
22-1.3.5 Geometric designs - Quilt-like designs - pewter
22-1.3.5 Geometric designs - Quilt-like designs - vegetable ivory
22-1.3.5 Geometric designs - Quilt-like designs - yellow metal
22-1.3.5 Geometric designs - Quilt-like designs - celluloid wafer
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - fabric
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - molded horn
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - china calico
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - horn with inlay
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - black glass
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - wood in metal with shell OME
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - black glass
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - white metal
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - cream white glass
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - celluloid
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - green glass with gold luster
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - white glass
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - dyed leather
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - fabric Houndstooth
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - enamel
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (weave) - brass
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (stylized knots) - celluloid set in metal
22-1.4 Interlaced Designs (stylized knots) - Celtic design - black glass
22-1.5 Linear designs - (stylized arrowheads) - stone ?
22-1.5 Linear designs - (stylized arrowheads) - Native American silver
22-1.5 Linear designs - (stylized arrowheads) - black glass
22-1.5 Linear designs - (stylized arrowheads) - pressed wood
22-1.5 Linear designs - (chevron) - dyed leather
22-1.5 Linear designs - (chevron) - painted leather set in metal
22-1.5 Linear designs - (chevron) - vegetable ivory
22-1.5 Linear designs - (chevron) - tortoise with inlay
22-1.5 Linear designs - (chevron) - yellow metal with cut-steel OME
22-1.5 Linear designs - (chevron) - horn with inlay
22-1.5 Linear designs - (chevron) - celluloid with metal OME
22-1.5 Linear designs - (chevron) - celluloid with white metal OME inlay
22-1.5 Linear designs - (straight lines) - enamel
22-1.5 Linear designs - (straight lines) - china stencil
22-1.5 Linear designs - (straight lines) - china cross-pattern
22-1.5 Linear designs - (zigzag) - wood
22-1.5 Linear designs - (zigzag) - brass with copper OME
22-1.5 Linear designs - (zigzag) - black glass with silver luster
22-1.5.1 Cross - fabric with glass OME
22-1.5.1 Cross - yellow metal with enamel OME
22-1.5.1 Cross - black glass with gold luster
22-1.5.1 Cross - glass in metal
22-1.5.1 Cross - velvet background perfume button
22-1.5.1 Cross - black glass with silver luster
22-1.5.1 Cross - brass
22-1.5.1 Cross - composition with shell inlay
22-1.5.1 Cross - beaded fabric
22-1.5.1 Cross - fabric
22-1.5.1 Cross - shell
22-1.5.2 Greek key (fret) - black glass with silver luster
22-1.5.2 Greek key (fret) - brass
22-1.5.2 Greek key (fret) - black glass
22-1.5.2 Greek key (fret) - enamel
22-1.5.2 Greek key (fret) - vegetable ivory
22-1.5.2 Greek key (fret) - steel
22-1.6 Radial designs (pinwheel) - enamel
22-1.6 Radial designs (pinwheel) - painted black glass
22-1.6 Radial designs (pinwheel) - polymer set in metal
22-1.6 Radial designs (pinwheel) - yellow metal with faceted cut-steels
22-1.6 Radial designs (pinwheel) - vegetable ivory
22-1.6 Radial designs (pinwheel) - silver
22-1.6 Radial designs (snow flake) - fabric
22-1.6 Radial designs (snow flake) - painted metal
22-1.6 Radial designs (snow flake) - black glass with enamel paint
22-1.6 Radial designs (snow flake) - faceted cut-steels
22-1.6 Radial designs (snow flake) - shell
22-1.6 Radial designs (snow flake) - pewter
22-1.6 Radial designs (solar) - copper
22-1.6 Radial designs (solar) - black glass with silver luster
22-1.6 Radial designs (solar) - vegetable ivory
22-1.6 Radial designs (spokes) - fabric
22-1.6 Radial designs (spokes) - metal
22-1.6 Radial designs (spokes) - wood Parquetry
22-1.6 Radial designs (swastika) - painted enamel on yellow metal
22-1.6 Radial designs (swastika) - brass
22-1.6 Radial designs (swastika) - molded horn
22-1.6 Radial designs (swastika) - metal
22-1.6 Radial designs (triskelion) - shell in metal
22-1.6 Radial designs (triskelion) - pearlized glass
22-1.6 Radial designs (triskelion) - celluloid with metal OME
22-1.6 Radial designs (triskelion) - glass with gold luster
22-1.6 Radial designs (tetraskelion) - celluloid
22-1.6 Radial designs (tetraskelion) - coated & cut celluloid
22-1.6 Radial designs (tetraskelion) - metal
22-1.6 Radial designs (tetraskelion) - glass in metal
22-1.6.2 Multi-lobed (Trefoil) - metal
22-1.6.2 Multi-lobed (Trefoil) - brass
22-1.6.2 Multi-lobed (Quatrefoil) - enamel
22-1.6.2 Multi-lobed (Quatrefoil) - enamel on porcelain
22-1.6.2 Multi-lobed (Quatrefoil) - composition
22-1.6.2 Multi-lobed (Cinquefoil) - white metal with enamel
22-1.6.2 Multi-lobed (Hexafoil) - bakelite
22-1.6.2 Multi-lobed (Hexafoil) - black glass precision inlay
22-1.6.2 Multi-lobed (Octafoil) - composition
22-1.6.2 Multi-lobed (Octafoil center) + circle borders - inlay
22-1.6.2 Multi-lobed (Octafoil) - polymer with yellow metal
22-1.6.2 Multi-lobed (9 foils) - horn set in metal
22-1.6.3 Star (4 points) - molded horn
22-1.6.3 Star (5 points) - rimmed vegetable ivory
22-1.6.3 Star (5 points) - fused black glass
22-1.6.3 Star (6 points) - black glass with enamel paint & luster
22-1.6.3 Star (7 points) - tomback metal
22-1.6.3 Star (8 points) - Bethlehem pearl
22-1.6.4 Tetrad - painted black glass
22-1.6.4 Tetrad - enamel steel-cup
22-1.6.4 Tetrad - black glass tile
22-1.6.4 Tetrad - black glass with paste OME
22-1.6.4 Tetrad - Basse-taille enamel
22-1.6.4 Tetrad - composition
22-1.6.5 Triad - wood
22-1.6.5 Triad - black glass with gold luster
22-1.6.5 Triad - buffed celluloid with paste OME
22-1.6.5 Triad - painted enamel
22-1.7 Turned Designs (turn-again) - painted metal
22-1.7 Turned Designs (turn-again) - sheet overlay glass set in metal
22-1.7 Turned Designs (turn-again) - material not known
22-1.7 Turned Designs (turn-again) - horn inlay
22-1.7 Turned Designs (turn-around) - pink glass
22-1.7 Turned Designs (turn-around) - celluloid set in metal
22-1.7 Turned Designs (turn-around) - celluloid wafer with wood OME
22-1.7 Turned Designs (turn-around) - black glass
22-1.7 Turned Designs (turn-over) - black glass with silver luster
22-1.7 Turned Designs (turn-over) - enamel
22-1.7 Turned Designs (turn-over) - enamel in metal with cut-steels
22-1.7 Turned Designs (turn-over) - enamel
Acknowledgments: The proposed classification information used for the update of this section came from an article published in the May 2009 issue of the National Button Bulletin. It was subsequently updated to comply with reference 1. Special thanks to Barbara Barrans, Judy Stopke and Louella Yeargain for collaborating in the development and update of this section. A special thanks to Joan Lindsay & Joy Journeay for their expert editing skills!
References:
(1) National Button Society Blue Book - Official NBS Classification and Competition Guidelines
(2) PATTERN BUTTONS WITH PICTORIAL ELEMENTS - download & view this explanation to help clarify pictorial patterns.