background

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 13 : Vegetable Ivory

* To download and print pdfs of the vegetable ivory worksheet click this link: page 1 & 2.

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

13-1 Back Types - 4-Way Self Shank (1")
13-1 Back Types - Padback (7/8")
13-1 Back Types - Padback (1-1/8")
13-1 Back Types - 3-Hole sew-thru (7/8")
13-1 Back Types - 2-Hole sew-thru - Natural Bark (3/4")
13-1 Back Types - 2-Hole sew-thru - Natural Bark (3/4")
13-1 Back Types - Duel Shank Sew-thru & Self shank (11/16")
13-1 Back Types - 4-Hole Sew-thru Hidden thread feature (1")
13-1 Back Types - 2-hole Whistle-hole (11/16")
13-1 Back Types - Turret Shank
13-3.3 Mechanical make-up - Vegetable ivory (VI)with Vegetable ivory VI) -
13-1 Back Types - Turret Shank (1")
13-1 Back Types - Threadback (7/8")
13-1 Back Types - Pin Shank (5/8")
13-1 Back Types - Bar or Bridge Shank (5/8")
13-2.1 Decorative Finish (DF) - Dye (1-1/8")
13-2.1 Decorative Finish (DF) - Dye (1-1/8")
13-2.1 Decorative Finish (DF) - Dye (1-1/8")
13-2.2 Decorative Finish (DF) - Paint -Natural Bark - Verbal (1")
13-2.2 Decorative Finish (DF) - Paint (1")
13-2.2 Decorative Finish (DF) - Paint (1-1/8")
13-2.2 Decorative Finish (DF) - Pearlized (7/8")
13-2.3 Decorative Finish (DF) - Stencil (5/8")
13-2.3 Decorative Finish (DF) - Stencil
13-2.3 Decorative Finish (DF) - Stencil - 1-Piece - Frame Effect (5/8")
13-2.3 Decorative Finish (DF) - Rubber stamp - Studio button (1-1/4x1")
13-2.3 Decorative Finish (DF) - Transfer (1-1/4")
13-2.3 Decorative Finish (DF) - Transfer (1")
13-3.1 Mechanical make-up - Frame - Black Glass Center (1/2")
13-3.1 Mechanical make-up - Frame - Lithograph Center (11/16")
13-3.1 Mechanical make-up - Frame -Reverse Intaglio Glass Center (1/2")
13-3.1 Mechanical make-up - Frame - Shell Center (5/8")
13-3.1 Mechanical make-up - Frame - Porcelain Center (15/16")
13-3.1 Mechanical make-up - Frame - Fabric & Lace Center (5/8")
13-3.1 Mechanical make-up - Frame - Tintype Center (1")
13-3.2 Mechanical make-up - Inlay - Abalone (13/16")
13-3.2 Mechanical make-up - Inset - Shell (7/16")
13-3.3 Mechanical make-up - Vegetable ivory (VI) with VI (7/8")
13-3.3 Mechanical make-up - VI with VI - 2-Piece moveable (5/8")
13-3.3 Mechanical make-up - VI with VI - (7/8")
13-3.3 Mechanical make-up - VI with VI - (11/16")
13-4 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Butterfly Wing (1-7/8")
13-4 OME - Celluloid, brass & paste - Birmingham Trade - (1")
13-4 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Fabric Center (5/8")
13-4 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Brass (1")
13-4 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Pewter (1")
13-4 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Brass Rimmed (3/4")
13-4 OME - Brass & Paste - Birmingham Trade (3/4")
13-4 OME - Composition & Paste (3/4")
13-4 OME - Paste (1/2")
13-4 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Glass (9/16")
13-4 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Glass (3/8")
13-4 Other Material Embellishments (OME) - Dyed Shell (15/16")
13-5.1 Working Methods - Carved - Realistic (1-1/4")
13-5.1 Working Methods - Carved - Natural Bark (15/16")
13-5.1 Working Methods - Carved - Laser Cut (3/4")
13-5.1 Working Methods - Turned/Lathed - Contour Ball (5/8")
13-5.1 Working Methods - Turned/Lathed - 2-Piece 7/8")
13-5.1 Working Methods - Engraved - Paint/Verbal (5/8")
13-5.1 Working Methods - Engraved - Verbal - Back mark (3/4")
13-5.1 Working Methods - Laser Engraved (1")
13-5.2 Working Methods - Pierced - carved & Dyed (15/16")
13-5.2 Working Methods/Pierced - Pierced - (15/16")
13-5.3 Working Methods - Pressed - Dyed (15/16")
13-5.3 Working Methods - Pressed - Linear Shape 5/8")
13-5.3 Working Methods - Pressed - Linear Shape (5/8")
13-5.3 Working Methods - Pressed - Honeycomb Pattern (7/8")
13-5.3 Working Methods - Pressed - All-Over Pattern (7/8")
13-5.3 Working Methods - Pressed - Pictorial (1")
13-5.3 Working Methods - Pressed - Pants button (13/16")
13-5.3 Working Methods - Pressed - Work Clothes (3/4")
13-6 Unlisted - Background - Steel Cup (5/8")
13-6 Unlisted - Mounted in Metal (1-1/8")
13-6 Unlisted - Backmark "LaMode B.B.C. Co" (3/4")
13-6 Unlisted - Back mark of 4 Stars (5/8")
13-6 Unlisted - Back mark of 3 Stars (5/8")
Tagua Nut - the Source of Vegetable Ivory (1-3/4")

Back to Button Materials

* Vegetable Ivory Buttons Worksheet in Excel

Acknowledgments: Thanks to the Peach State Button Club members for providing the majority of the buttons shown in the above images. Special thanks to Karen Farnsworth, Louella Yeargain, Barbara Barrans, and Pat Fields for collaborating in the update of this section including their contribution of several 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) From Nuts to Buttons by Pat and David Fields.