Buttons and button-like objects used as ornaments rather than fasteners have been discovered in the ancient Indus Valley during its Kot Diji phase (circa 2800-2600 BC) and Bronze Age sites in China (circa 2000-1500 BC), and are attested in Ancient Rome.
Functional buttons with buttonholes for fastening or closing clothing appeared first in Germany in the 13th century. They soon became widespread with the rise of snug-fitting garment in 13th- and 14th-century Europe.

Button Trivia

The word button comes from the French word “bouton” meaning bud, protuberance, or any round object.

The Chinese once wore five buttons on their coat fronts as symbols of the five principal virtues recommended by Confucius:  Humanity, Justice, Order, Prudence, and Rectitude.

The first buttons made in the United States were made of metal. In 1750 Caspar Wistar, a German immigrant, began manufacturing brass buttons in Philadelphia.

In WWI, the British army used 367 different kinds of buttons. Buttons were considered so important to front line troops that any kind of button could be requisitioned and delivered within eight hours. The British army spent $500,000 per year just for the paste used to polish buttons.

In America, buttons were once used for trading with the Indians.

Louis XIV, who had weaknesses for jeweled buttons, went on a button spree throughout his 72-year reign that cost France over $5 million.

During her long period of mourning, Queen Victoria used black jet buttons almost exclusively, setting a trend that resulted in black glass buttons becoming the most popular style in the 19^th century.

Young girls in the U.S. made Charm Strings. According to legend, once a girl collected 1,000 buttons on a string, Prince Charming would come.

The custom of sewing extra buttons on coat sleeves dates from Revolutionary times … when they were put there to discourage gentlemen from using their sleeve as a handkerchief.

This card was made with a postcard image.  The buttons were attached with glue.  The inside reads:

Friendship is love without wings.

 Lord Byron

The card below was made with origami paper as the background.  A strip containing Oriental writing was attached to cardstock with photo squares attached on the sides and bottom only.  The Oriental images (Imperial Hotel and the money) are simply slipped into the strip on the bottom.  The button (purchased at Michaels) was attached with glue.  I used the ribbon punch on the left hand side of the paper and inserted a fortune into the slits.  If you Google “Japanese Proverbs” you will find an endless supply of Japanese fortunes and proverbs that are great fun to use on cards.

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Copyright © 2007 The Cropping Cook                          This page was last updated on 08/24/2008