shell

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 11 : Shell

* To download and print pdfs of the shell worksheet click these links: page 1 , page 2 , page 3.

Some descriptions of these buttons may be cut off. Full descriptions can be seen in the slide show mode.

11-1 Iridescent Shell - Abalone (1-5/8")

11-1 Iridescent Shell - Ocean Oyster (1")

11-1 Iridescent Shell - Smoky Pearl Oyster (1")

11-1 Iridescent Shell - Trochus (1")

11-1 Iridescent Shell - Green Snail Turbo (1-1/4")

11-1 Iridescent Shell - Fresh Water Mussel (1")

11-1 Iridescent Shell - Nautilus (1-1/8")

11-1 Iridescent Shell - Colonial (not 18th Century) (1")

11-1 Iridescent Shell - Oyster Shaded (1")

11-1.1 Bethlehem Pearl (1-5/8")

11-2 Non-Iridescent Shell - Helmut (1-1/16")

11-2 Non-Iridescent Shell - Operculum Cat's Eye (1")

11-2 Non-Iridescent Shell - Pinna Div I (5/8")

11-2 Non-Iridescent Shell - Pinna Studio (1-3/4")

11-2 Non-Iridescent Shell - Conch Cameo (1")

11-2 Non-Iridescent Shell - Cowry Engraved (1-1/8")

11-2 Non-Iridescent Shell - Cowry (1-1/8")

11-2 Non-Iridescent Shell - Tiger Cowry - OME (1-1/8")

11-2 Non-Iridescent Shell - Olive (1")

11-2 Non-Iridescent Shell - African Turbo (1-7/8")

11-3 Back Types - 3 Hole (1/2")

11-3 Back Types - 4 Hole (3/4")

11-3 Back Types - 6 Hole (3/4")

11-3 Back Types - 18th c. Gathered fabric Back with spider (1-1/2")

11-3 Back Types - Swaged Metal Box Shank (1-1/8")

11-3 Back Types - Self Shank - Shape (5/8")

11-3 Back Types - Swaged Metal Loop Shank/OME (1-1/2")

11-3 Back Types - Solder Shank (3/4")

11-3 Back Types - Whistle (1/2")

11-4.1 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Dyed - Blue (3/4")

11-4.1 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Dyed - Green (5/8")

11-4.1 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Dyed - Red (1/2")

11-4.1 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Dyed - Yellow (1/2")

11-4.1 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Dyed - Magenta (11/16")

11-4.1 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Dyed - Wax Resist (1-1/4")

11-4.1 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Dyed (1-1/4")

11-4.2 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Gilded (7/8")

11-4.2 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Gilded (1")

11-4.2 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Silver Leaf (1-3/8")

11-4.3 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Painted (3/4")

11-4.3 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Painted (11/16")

11-4.3 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Painted - Studio (1-1/2")

11-4.3 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Encrusted (3/4")

11-4.3 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Encrusted (1")

11-4.4 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Transfer/Decal Litho (1-3/8")

11-4.4 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Transfer/Decal - (11/16")

11-4.4 Decorative Finishes (DF) - Transfer/Decal - (5/8")

11-5.1 Mechanical Make-up - Frame - Fabric (9/16")

11-5.1 Mechanical Make-up - Frame - Black Glass (1-5/8")

11-5.1 Mechanical Make-up - Frame - Brass (7/8")

11-5.1 Mechanical Make-up - Frame - White Metal - Paint (9/16")

11-5.2 Mechanical Make-up - Inlay/Inset - Inlay Pearl (1-1/8")

11-5.2 Mechanical Make-up - Inlay/Inset - Inset Pearl (1-1/8")

11-5.2 Mechanical Make-up - Inlay/Inset Aluminum (1-1/4")

11-5.3 Mechanical Make-up - Laminate Shape (1")

11-5.3 Mechanical Make-up - Veneer (1-3/16")

11-5.4 Mechanical Make-up - Overlay (5/8")

11-5.4 Mechanical Make-up - Overlay Carved (1-1/4")

11-6 Mounted in/on Metal - Steel Cup (9/16")

11-6 Mounted in/on Metal - Mounted on Metal (1-5/8")

11-6 Mounted in/on Metal - Mounted on Metal (1-3/8")

11-6 Mounted in/on Metal - Mounted on Metal (1-1/8")

11-6.1 Mounted in/on Metal - Ivoroid on Shell background (7/16")

11-6.1 Mounted in/on Metal - Pearl Background (5/8")

11-6.1 Mounted in/on Metal - Pearl Background (1-7/16")

11-7 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Enamel Plaquette (9/16")

11-7 OME - Faceted cut-steel & yellow metal (3/4")

11-7 OME - Lithograph Frame (1-5/8")

11-7 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Composition (7/8")

11-7 OME - Porcelain Liverpool Transfer (1-1/8")

11-7 OME - Fabric, Pad Back (1-1/8")

11-7 OME - Horn/Pin-shank (3/4")

11-7 OME - Painted White Metal (1-1/8")

11-7.1 OME - Clear and Colored Glass (1")

11-7.1 OME - Clear and Colored Glass - Goldstone (3/4")

11-7.1 OME - Faceted Cut-steels (3/4")

11-7.1 OME - Pastes - 18th Century (1-1/2")

11-7.1 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Paste (1")

11-7.1 OME - Rhinestones/Pastes (1-3/8")

11-7.1 OME - Rhinestones/Pastes (also brass) (3/4")

11-7.1 OME - Rhinestones/Pastes - Shape (7/8")

11-7.2 OME - Metal - Brass and Steel (5/8")

11-7.2 OME - Steel Mirrors with Pewter center (7/8")

11-7.2 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Metal - Brass (1-1/4")

11-7.2 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Metal - Silver (7/8")

11-7.2 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Metal - Pewter (9/16")

11-7.2 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Metal - Copper (7/8")

11-7.2.1 OME - Metal - Cut Steels - Carved (1-3/4")

11-7.2.1 OME - Metal - Cut Steels -Engraved, Openwork (3/4")

11-7.2.2 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Escutcheon (1")

11-7.2.3 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - "Watch Wheel" (1/2")

11-7.2.4 OME - Yellow Metal with Rim (15/16")

11-7.2.4 OME - Metal - Brass - Moveable Door Knocker- BM (1/2")

11-7.2.4 OME - Yellow Metal - Brass (7/8")

11-7.2.4 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Yellow Metal (3/4")

11-8.1 Working Methods - Carved - Square shape (13/16")

11-8.1 Working Methods - Carved - Modified Oval shape (3/4")

11-8.1 Working Methods - Carved - Realistic shape - Div I (1-1/8")

11-8.1 Working Methods - Carved - Realistic shape, Modern (7/8")

11-8.1 Working Methods - Carved (1-1/4")

11-8.1 Working Methods - Carved - Cameo Carved (1")

11-8.1 Working Methods - Carved - Reverse Carved (1-1/4")

11-8.2 Working Methods - Engraved - gold paint (1")

11-8.2 Working Methods - Engraved (1-1/8")

11-8.2 Working Methods - Engraved - 18th Century (1-7/16")

11-8.2 Working Methods - Engraved - Laser Engraved Studio (1")

11-8.2 Working Methods - Scrimshaw (1-1/4")

11-8.3 Working Methods - Pierced (1-1/4")

11-8.3 Working Methods - Pierced (3/4")

Acknowledgments: Special thanks to Pat Koehle, Louella Yeargain, Barbara Barrans and Pat Fields for collaborating in the update of this section including their contribution of a number of the button images shown as examples. 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) Pearl and Shell Buttons - Margaret Kelso/Shirley Case, National Button Society - 2003

Back to Button Materials

* Shell Buttons Worksheet in Excel