Luckiest of antique buttons, here's a very large specimen of bright orange Bakelite that flew into my butterfly net earlier this year thanks to my good friend Doreen who retained this lovely button in her personal collection for some time before parting ways with it. The carved texture of this bonny bug looks like glass and the shine is exquisite—a fiery orange that's not so much a rusty tone (as this photo suggests), but more of a brilliant citrus when viewed in person. Eventually, I'll get around to posting more figure and trinket buttons in the shapes of various animals. All together they form a spectacular menagerie.
Visit Doreen's online store:
BUTTONS FROM THE ATTIC
-Sherbert McGee
Sometimes I wonder if the carved designs on old Bakelite buttons were inspired by science. Here's the perfect example: a large coat button that might be depicting a stylized interpretation of what it looks like under a microscope when a cell divides. Made of chocolate brown Bakelite, the large circles carved into this button with heavily-etched intersection really do resemble mitosis, but this is not a biology lesson. This is fashion, circa 1930.
On a separate-but-related note, here's an art deco portrait of renown chemist "Dr. Boucard" by my very favorite artist: Tamara de Lempicka. Painted in 1929, this work demonstrates Lempicka's flair for bright colors and luminous clarity with her debonair subject ensconced against a background of cubistic rays. For the rest of this year, I will post a Tamara de Lempicka painting to my blog on every second or third Wednesday of the month.
-Sherbert McGee
What do you make of these little buttons? To me, they look a bit like tickets with perforated edges, but I'm not sure what to think. One thing is certain: these buttons tested positive for Bakelite. The green one is an example of creamed spinach on account of the yellow swirling while the maroon one is a striking wine. In all my years collecting buttons, I've yet to discover another pair like these.
Visit Doreen's online store:
BUTTONS FROM THE ATTIC
-Sherbert McGee
On most days I only use natural light on my button photos, but today I cranked up the flash feature on my camera and snapped this picture with an extra dose of light. Reason being, I wanted to play up the carved designs on this otherwise very dark and strategically fashioned button. In licorice Bakelite, this old keepsake sports a strange range of spotted patches and artful grooves. It's a prime example of how button-makers used to go to town on a hunk of plastic for a highly decorated effect. Bakelite buttons are endlessly strange and beautiful. This one rolled out of the early 1930's.
-Sherbert McGee
Fat as a puffed pastry, towering as a toadstool and lovelier than a baron's brooch, this major hunk of two-tiered Bakelite is one of my absolute wowzers. The base is creamed corn and piggybacking on top of it lies an outlandish dollop of swirled butterscotch. The bottom section is sliced at angles while the crown piece is carved into a blossomy bonbon, if not a queenly soufflé. A button so stocky and unique, I'm clueless as to how it ever slipped through a buttonhole. But here it is: Majestic, delicious and worthy of a grand jubilee.
Visit Doreen's online store:
BUTTONS FROM THE ATTIC
-Sherbert McGee
Vogue as they come, here's a swanky and high-fashion assortment of four Bakelite rocker buttons in black licorice as well as apple juice. Not without a sprinkling of tinsel confetti, each button is infused with a glittery downpour for an eternal party (circa 1925) frozen inside this opulent quartet. Shape-wise, there are two types of rocker buttons here, but I situated them differently to show off the chic slants and various, art deco edges of the Bakelite. Clearly, these old vanity buttons once belonged to a fancy clique of dashing rascals. Strike a pose!
-Sherbert McGee
Here's an interesting trio of medium-sized rootbeer buttons, which I purchased earlier this year from my friend, Doreen. Each of these Bakelite buttons is marked with a pair of brass bands that almost look like staple heads. Clothing-wise, it's hard to say what these buttons belonged to, but can't you just picture them on a yellow sweater belonging to Hedy Lamarr in the late 1930's-early 40's?
Visit Doreen's online store:
BUTTONS FROM THE ATTIC
-Sherbert McGee
