Buttons and their materiality

Bone: Buttons made from bone are probably the oldest kind known to humans. They were made from the shinbones of various animals and any farmer with a dead animal and a lathe could make them. Produced in early 18th century, popular until 1850s, then replaced by horn. Normally used only practically, historically for pant flys or underpants.

Metal: Made from pewter, brass or aluminium. Sometimes covered with fabric

Shell: First appeared in the 1820s for an undershirt for King George IV. Often quite fragile, which is why they are very little archaeological findings. Often used on shirts, as small four holed models. Made from molusc shell. Photo shows a shell after the button blanks where cut out.

Ceramic: Moulded in porcelain, first patented in 1840 by Richard Prosser. This made Ceramic buttons accessible to the working class.

Wood: Cut from wooden blanks or turned on the lathe.

Plastic: Normally injection molded in every shape and color imaginable.