Black Buttons Once Fashionable

An inspection of grandmother’s button box would undoubtedly have turned up a supply of black glass buttons. Black buttons first became popular during the  Victorian period when Queen Victoria wore black buttons made of jet after the death of her husband, Prince Albert.

Black became fashionable and the demand for jet buttons far exceeded the supply. Black glass imitations were quickly produced in Germany, Venice, Bohemia and America, to meet the needs of fashion.

Most of the “jet” buttons found on clothing or in button boxes is actually some form of highly polished, glossy black glass. If you hold one up to the light and it has a thin edge, you may see a deep amethyst color.

The black glass buttons came in glossy, dull and textured. Some had inset designs made of pieces of glass or shell. Others were enameled, painted, carved or had overlays of brass, copper or cut steel. The black buttons averaged about 1/2” in diameter or a little more.

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Functional Iron Bar

Loggerheads were heavy iron bars used in shipyards. When heated, they were used to melt pitch for caulking a ship. They also made a great weapon in a fight and from this comes the expression, “to be at loggerheads.”

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Dense White Clay Is Durable Stuff

One of the many kinds of pottery produced in this country is stoneware. It is made from a dense white clay that is found in only a few areas.

The difficulty in acquiring the raw material limited production in the early years of our country, when redware was the favored product. However, by the early 19th century, there were huge quantities of stoneware produced in the areas where the clay existed. Because of its strength, about equal to steel, much has survived.

For many years, it wasn’t much sought after by collectors. This was partly due to its limited decoration. Because of the high temperature at which it is fired, compounds of cobalt and manganese were the only two that could be used for decoration. These give, respectively, blue and black designs.

Stoneware also is more difficult to mold and, therefore, was mostly used for jugs and crocks. A few molded pieces such as inkwells and flasks were made, but they’re not too common.

In buying old stoneware, look for attractive shapes and designs to get the best value for your money.

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Victorian Aprons Had Special Uses

Aprons have, for the most part, gone out of style. For the Victorians, however, they were an important fashion item.

The types of aprons showed great variety and were specialized to fit each household task. There were sewing aprons and kitchen aprons; servant’s, artist’s and nurse’s aprons; and aprons for children.

Those advanced young women who dared to take jobs in offices wore simple black aprons made of sateen or cambric. Two lengths of fabric were attached to a belt and either buttoned at the back or tied with long black strings. They reached to the floor, covering the skirt, and usually had a pocket.

For the traditional young lady who remained at home, a fancy apron for pouring afternoon tea was needed. These were usually knee-length and made of lace or net. Many had elaborately embroidered decoration.

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