See how they shine! Metal buttons with reflecting capability are a distinctive draw to the eye, which is the point. Since the Victorian era, when making the most of a dimly lit environment was an effort, every opportunity to reflect light was ventured on any surface, particularly buttons on clothing. Candle light could give a woman’s accoutrement a mysterious dazzle.
The name Twinkle, for a button, was not coined until lately, and in the US, most likely in the 1970’s. I’ve not yet discovered if it was given by collectors or manufacturers. Since many button names have been created by the collecting organization, to give easy reference to a pictorial or type of button, my tendency is to believe that a collector came up with the reference. I heard it commonly mentioned in the late ‘90’s about the type of button discussed here.
I have most every button book published, and without going through every Hobbies magazine, the first reference to buttons, so named as Twinkles, is in Primrose Peacock’s Book, “Discovering Old Buttons” published in 1978.
The metal buttons we have come to love as “Twinkles” were disdained by collectors in their contemporary times. This is often the case with whatever is lately made, while collecting buttons of “olden times’. The earliest made with reflector quality were certainly Victorian, usually mirror type borders and backgrounds are found and the buttons are referred to as ‘Perforates’ with the other material showing through. The metal background can be seen in varying colors, brass, aluminum, foils and multicolor is particularly of interest. These may be judged by the shank, look for the loop shanks and japanned backs. A few are mounded.
Most Twinkle buttons found today are of the 20th century or modern period. The buttons from WWI period were made in Czechoslovakia and one may often find back-marks saying so. After WWII, American made metal buttons similarly twinkled, distinguished from the earlier as less elaborate. One might find many an original carded set marked ‘Made in USA’. Jill Gorski’s, “Buttons Field Guide” book, 2009 has the most photographs of Twinkles in a published book.
For variety, collectors may wish to look for pictorial Twinkles, those that are painted, those that imitate other materials, like woven fabric for instance, and sew through twinkles which are less common and twinkles with pastes.
The lacy Filigree look of this type of button is quite attractive and searching is fun because you will be very likely to have success. And that, of course is fulfillment to the collector’s heart.
© Clare Bazley…abuttonlady
Leave a Reply