Over the years, I've collected a small stash of banana buttons made of Bakelite—and here they are. Four bright yellow bananas of varying shades and styles, the lowermost button is a pressed design. The other three buttons were painted with a light smattering of brown spots and lines typically found on this popular fruit item. The largest button shown here is a Martha Sleeper creation that's been resin washed or dyed. Many of Martha's signature trinkets underwent a colorant process that altered or enhanced the original tone of the Bakelite. This bunch of buttons goes back to the 1930's-1940's.
A fun part of my button collection has been the gradual acquiring of these fruit & vegetable trinkets. All of these bright and shiny buttons have appeared at one time or another on this blog with the exception of the pumpkin (shown to the right of the strawberry), which I've not shared until now. Studying their curves and textures, each button here bears the appropriate carvings for veggie skin and fruit rinds with little bumps, dimples, lines and cleavage. Most of these buttons have painted details. They are all made of Bakelite, exemplifying the gadget jewelry fad that peaked after WWII.
-Sherbert McGee
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