A String with Coins and Keys

Buffum collection, inventory #35

String of approximately 350 buttons. The string was purchased from Mead, Washington on July 10, 2007. According to the seller it was purchased originally from an elderly woman at a tag sale with other sewing items. The elderly woman told her the string had belonged to her sister who had passed away in California. She did not know who had strung the buttons.  The buttons are strung on cotton string which seems in good condition at this time.  There is a large pressed horn Touch button.  Buttons on this string consist of Victorian grass with glass insets, black glass, waistcoats and small jewel buttons, charmstring glass in assorted colors and patterns, radiants, chinas, a shoe button,  glass with applied glass, medium drum button, mother or pearl, abalone, large clear glass with pin shank, about eight assorted small to medium Goodyear hard rubber buttons (N.R. CO backmarks), a white glass horse head mounted in brass, veil button, inlay button, clam broth glass sew thru, 6 assorted kaleidoscopes (two with molded tops, 4 plain dome), white glass with transfer chek pattern, 2 medium black glass with goldstone, 2 real seashell buttons, 2 Cicil War era “I” infantry coat buttons (one has no backmark the other is Extra Quality), a mother/daughter black glass with gold luster butterfly set, vegetable ivory with loop shank, unusual medium brass button with tinted gristmill scene, Medium black glass ’Omega” symbol button, gorgeous medium to large gold reflector button with textured background and crystal clear star inside, faceted clear glass ball buttons, medium brass target button, swirlbacks in black glass and white glass, shell in metal (R. L. & F Paris bm) extra large brass Classical ladies head, brass with fabric and white glass inset waistcoat, red glass berry top set in brass, small square black glass Greek key, black glass drum, stamped brass, riveted steel, purple swirl glass pudding mold charmstring, horn, diminutive paperweight with rose center, small brass standing lion over bar, coronets, pinshank glass. Also on this string are a very large heavy silver love token/coin, an 1838 seated Liberty half dime, and a British Victoria Regina coin/token dated 1849 on the Victoria side, and depicting Hanover on horseback on the reverse with the words To Hanover 1837 on the reverse side. There is a small brass watch key (?) on the string as well.

A Charmstring Loop

Buffum collection, inventory #34

String (in a loop) of 302 buttons purchased June 17, 2007 Ballston Lake, NY.  The mostly Victorian era metal buttons consist of botanicals, geometrics and conventionals. The metal buttons include pewter, steel, cut and faceted steels, brass, tinted brass (blue and red),  tinted steels, multi-materials, metal with glass insets, mother of pearl set in metal, faceted brass ball button, fabric in metal, celluloid in brass, tombac, screen backs.  Other buttons scattered along the string are also small, black glass, pressed horn, abalone. There is a large brass button that can be considered the Touch button if the string was not in a loop.

Found at NERBA

Buffum collection, inventory #33

String of approximately 489 buttons. String was purchased at the 2007 NERBA meeting & show auction, Friday June 8, 2007. The buttons were strung on nylon fish line. The string came in a cloth drawstring bag with a country print.  Touch button is a large black carved and molded Bakelite button with a small triangular orange Bakelite button as anchor.  All the remaining buttons on the string are Division I, old and antique buttons.  (Note:  211 additional old, antique, Victorian era buttons were added to the string when removed from the fishing line for cleaning and restringing on waxed linen cord in June 2007 making a total of 700 buttons.) There is a large Colonial pearl with pinshank at the opposite end.  On this string are vegetable ivory, small jewel,  small uniform, black glass, black glass with luster, black glass imitating cut steel, chinas, charmstring glass, small brass picture buttons, medium brass picture buttons, some with original tint, steel cups, steel buttons, one small enamel that is square, a white glass Jenny Lind mounted in metal,brass with cut steel embellishment, pin shanked glass and china,waistcoats,medium black glass croquet button, small round enamel,several drum buttons,one calico, glass set in metal, several large brass picture buttons, molded clam broth glass,large black molded horn with woman’s head, reflector/glory button with red star center, lozenge button,dyed vegetable ivory buttons, small brown pin shank vegetable ivory, pink and turquoise china balls, black perfume button, Golden Age star, dyed shell, small M&B railroad cuff button, Freeland overall button, steel framed brass Edgar and Lucey button, several gilt buttons, pierced metal, green glass with pin shank– buttons are tightly strung and the string is heavy. Very nice collection of older buttons– there are two square carved applejuice Bakelite buttons on the string.  

A Creative Display

The question sometimes arises, how best to display a charmstring. Well, a friend of ours certainly knows how to create a stunning display. Here an antique mannequin hand was screwed into the base of a bell jar and the charmstring draped around it and through its fingers (the bell jar glass was removed during photographing due to reflection of flash). The string is composed of all black glass buttons, giving a striking contrast between it and the hand.

From Canada

Buffum Collection, inventory number 32

String of approximately 243 buttons.  String was purchased from Thomas, Ontario, Canada on January 24, 2007.  This string previously belonged to a member of The Trillium Button Club of Ontario Canada who had purchased it at an estate sale in 1991.  Have original string in plastic bag (had to restring to remove corroded buttons).  Touch button is a large heavy brass Navy anchor button with indecipherable backmark (Albert’s, pg.88-89, NA11C or NA12.  String is comprised of the following buttons and types of buttons– black glass in conventional geometric and pictorial designs, metal with glass insets, white metal, pewter, clambroth glass, steel, military eagle with shield (Albert’s, pg. 40-41 GI98 1875-1902) Scovill Mfg. Co, Waterbury bm),  molded clear glass, brass with head, vegetable ivory, medium drum, black glass with goldstone, carved bone, tortoise shell glass oblong, waistcoats, Cheshire jewel, china cones, charmstring glass (swirlbacks), design under glass, 3 birdcage shank chinas all different, MOP, composition, hard rubber (most with later bm w/o date, one with 1851 date), small brass pictorial hound head in hunting horn, ruby glass, small architectural brass pictorial, brass bell, stamped brass, pressed horn, small brass pictorial hut with palm trees, original red tint lovebirds brass pictorial, composition with gold flecks, brass cage, carved shell, perfume stork, white metal man in moon with stars, small original tint bird on wall, deep carved black glass pictorial– leaves, black glass pictorial deer in forest with traces of original brown and gold paint, black velvet pad back, large brass pad back with black glass inset.

Strung on Red Flecked Cord

Buffum collection, inventory #31

String of approximately 705 buttons.  String was purchased from St. Petersburg, FL on October 1, 2006.  This string is from the same Florida estate as string CS27, a woman who died in 2004 whose executor she called “Snip”. Have original plastic bag with note in which string was stored.  The string appears to be on an original cord which is white cotton with flecks of red cotton woven into it.  String is tagged with a red circle with inventory # on it.  Touch button is a smooth large rimmed brass button.  Stunning string composed of many different types of antique buttons.  One large domed dark vegetable ivory button has fallen off since obtaining– loop shank still on string someplace, button is loose. This string is comprised of the following type buttons: White metal with knobby white metal camel, large beautiful watch case with swirl vine design over linear background, Jacksonian pictorial with rose at center surrounded by six leaves in the shape of a star, pewter domed button, Golden Age with grapes and leaves (bm Benedict & Burnham), small gilt and Golden Age buttons, diminutive colored glass balls (green, rose), chinas, waistcoats, jeweled waistcoats, Cheshire jewels, black glass, black mourning glass, small black glass pictorial of a rose, black glass with silver luster, brass botanicals, brass buttons convention and art nouveau designs, large tin or steel button with wood background and brass geometric interior border and steel star pin shank, several large Victorian metal with celluloid perforates, cut steels, stamped steel, tinted pewter, small enamels, large brass cut out of woman’s head, pinshank MOP, carved MOP, steel cups, perforated rim root beer or tortoise shell glass, small chased gilts, large brass basket-weave button, tinted metal with steels, delicate steel filigrees, flat steel pictorial, French franc coin button (in brass rim), GAR button (bm Boston, small drums, brass or metal with shell inserts, pierced brass and metals,  large fancy brass pinwheel over MOP,  2 black glass buttons with brown paint or color on top and colorized William Tell shrine depictions, clam broth, clear glass, small brass ornate border Cupid at the Forge, and Cupid at the Fountain, large steel border with steel “mirror” center with brass floral spray, small Queen Victoria in little hut button with palm frond, large black crochet covered button with star center, brass veil button (most fabric worn away), square brass cricket cage, small chunky square brass button, tinted diaper pattern brass button, tinted pearl button with beaded top, two large vegetable ivory domed buttons with loop shanks, Astarea set in red tinted metal, several other matching sets.

Another Home Made Beauty

Buffum collection, inventory #30

String of 906 buttons strung by Susan Buffum for Kelly Buffum on August 10, 2006 while watching a Red Sox game (they lost). Strung from selecting only wire or loop shank buttons from several baskets of antique buttons around the house. Touch button is a large brass button.  Buttons on this string include small Ivoroids, small picture buttons in assorted materials, botanicals, waistcoats, small jeweled buttons, black glass, black glass with lusters, pressed horn, chased, Golden Age and gilt, pewter, small enamels, original tints, cut steels, chinas, laquered, paint on brass, metal with celluloid, glass ball, charmstring, steel cup, brass with MOP insets, clambroth, small drum, rubber (backmarked N.R. Co & Goodyear), steel with shell, abalone, MOP, Cheshire jewel, tole painted, art nouveau designs, small glory button, medium red glass ball button with wire shank.  The majority of buttons are small with a scattering of diminutives, and medium size buttons and a handful of NBS large.

Wolf's Head Button to Catch the Eye

Buffum collection, inventory #29

String of 218 mostly small buttons purchased August 8, 2006 from Aylmer, Ontario, Canada.   Touch button is a large metal framed button with missing center design (some traces remain around edge of rim). The string is comprised of many jeweled and glass-centered waistcoats, charm string glass buttons and wire-shanked black glass buttons. Many of the black glass buttons are chipped or flea bitten, several are broken. Notable buttons include three small gilt buttons with back marks, a medium Murphy Dublin back-marked brass button, a large Hammond Turner & Sons back-marked brass wolf’s head button, a large drum with speckled red glass center, two small hunt buttons, one with a rabbit, one with a hound with New Sporting Designs 1844 back marks, small running rabbit button with Extra Rich Quality back mark, leather-covered metal button with Crowley’s patent back mark, 4 waistcoat buttons with back mark reading Gold Plated– one with purple glass center, one with green glass center, one with black glass Greek key center, one with clear berry glass center, small clam broth glass with orange painted croquet mallets, wicket and balls design, two reflectors, black glass male head (has pointed beard and headdress with feather pointing down from back), small black glass with spade design, china balls and cones, medium turned vegetable ivory button, large brass coat button back marked Boggett & Reynold London Saint Martin Lane, small rubber buttons, waistcoat with leather center, small steel buttons in various shapes (fluted, grooved cone, ball, cone, four leaf clover). String arrived in a tangle of miscellaneous other strings, threads, twine and cotton floss that had to be cut and trimmed away to reveal the intact charm string. Misc. stings saved in plastic baggie. 

A String with No Touch Button

Buffum collection, inventory #28

String of 126 small & diminutive buttons purchased July 17, 2006 from North Charleston, South Carolina.  There is no touch button, but for inventory purposes will note the pressed horn button that is at one end. Buttons include many clear glass in patterns, waistcoats, small jewels, a cut steel, pearl ball, cut and pierced abalone, gilt and Golden Age, white glass, clam broth glass, green glass ball, milk glass, lead, pewter, stamped steel, black glass with luster, original tints, white glass ball with black stripe, vegetable ivory, shoe button, black glass, brass with glass inserts.

A Wide Variety of Materials

Buffum collection, inventory #27

String of 350 buttons. String was purchased from St. Petersburg, FL on July 2, 2006. String came from the executor of the estate of a woman who died in 2004. Her nickname for him was “Snip”. Have original note from woman on plastic bag string was in and short explanation note. String is on its original waxed cord.  Touch button is a large pressed black-dyed horn pictorial of flowers with background design.  Buttons on the string range from diminutive to large and are of many different materials. There are many types of steel buttons on the string. Buttons on the string are made of horn with MOP, brass with paint, brass openwork with cut steels, brass botanicals, black glass with silver luster, black glass with red luster, brass with black glass inset, vegetable ivory with cut steels, riveted cut steels with blued steels, Civil War era “A” artillery cuff button, medium Golden Age (bm), cobalt glass ball with speckles, many waistcoats, charm string glass, swirl back glass, chinas, small glass with paste, openwork white metal bird medium & large sizes, MOP, abalone, pin shank shell, clam broth ball, white glass Greek key, black glass, steep cups, faceted steels with high twist border, 1-pc and 2-pc brass pictorials, caramel glass in brass waistcoat, Nailsea glass (small), black glass with goldstone, brass with shell with ruby glass with goldstone inset, brass with black fabric, heads, buckles, abalone with steel, small drums, celluloid in brass, china stencil, small brass Liberty cap with rayed background with rounded back (small flaw), small brass hot air balloon, General Service eagle cuff (bm) pierced brass 2-pc, hexagonal dimensional pierced brass, steels, vegetable ivory with turret shank, abalone, fox head sporting button coat size, large copper colonial sun design, large early GAR brass coat button (bm Goodwins Pat), large Victorian brass with celluloid, large architectural (pagoda), small architectural, stamped steel, NEL Co coat (Scoville bm), small head with 4-pt star (Liberty?), vegetable ivory with pearl disk, gilts, early, Navy cuff button, faceted cut pearl dyed blue, steel screen with floral design, ruby glass with gold. Brass veil with metal band, brass bud button, star pattern calico, original tints, Paris backs, small Golden Age

Many Small Metal Picture Buttons

Buffum collection, inventory #26

String of approximately 180 buttons.  String was purchased from Oakland, CA on April 20, 2006.  Original thread was very fragile and broke in transit. Buttons restrung on wax cord.  All buttons are small assorted Victorian/Edwardian metals.  Many brass botanical pictorials, butterfly, shell, anchor, brass floral with maroon fabric background, brass with paint, brass with celluloid disks, pewter and paste, geometrics and conventional designs.

Strung with Care

Buffum collection, inventory #25

String of 316 buttons. String was purchased from Argyle, Texas on March 16, 2006. Buttons were strung by an elderly woman in a nursing home. Buttons are all small or diminutive and string is comprised of small brass, small steel and steel cup, pewter, waistcoat, Bohemian glass, Czech glass, modern glass post 1918, reverse painted glass, one diminutive paperweight with a rose, vegetable ivory, sew thru china, fabric covered, uranium glass (about six), charm string glass with swirlback, square abalone, abalone with steel,, Paris back, transparent gold celluloid tight top, black glass, black glass with luster, ivoroid.

Was Once a Baby Teether

Buffum collection, inventory #24

String of 118 buttons. String was purchased from a Dryden, NY antiques dealer who obtained it from a man whose family it had belonged to for several generations. String was purchased February 8, 2006. String contains odd bits of broken jewelry, a metal tomahawk watch key, a small brass box or drawer key, and a small hand-carved basket made from a peach pit. Touch button is– a MOP shell hoop. Many china, colored charm string glass in various patterns, small black rubber, brass and metal waistcoats, two kaleidoscope faceted tops with red black and silver stars, white oval molded milk glass, molded clear glass cone shape, foil under glass in blue and green, black glass, medium black glass with swoosh design, colored glass  diminutives, oval amethyst glass (chipped), several broken buttons, ball buttons with colored dots, pink glass with white cap that looks like snow on a mountain peak, clear glass with paint on reverse, luster glass, one brown shoe button.

It Came in Pieces: Part 2 of 2

Buffum collection, inventory numbers 21, 22, & 23

#21: String of 156 buttons. Third of five charm strings purchased from a Florida dealer that originated from a Rhode Island Estate. String was purchased December 12, 2005.  Touch button is– extra large brass button with scroll and flowers with steel centers. Buttons of interest– large brass with bamboo at one side, composition, brass, clear glass ball, mottled vegetable ivory, black glass quilt star, brass with two-tone green paint, chunky clear glass, ruffled red-tint steel, chinas, N.R. Co. Goodyear rubber rose, large composition with big abalone flakes, small white metal signpost pictorial, waistcoat, black glass with iridescent luster, pierced brass ball, Dickinson Hard Rubber Company (D.H.R. Co.) self shank, metals, glass, brass, vegetable ivory, composition, black metal pictorial house with tower and bridge. 

#22: String of 156. Fourth of five charm strings purchased from a Florida dealer that originated from a Rhode Island Estate. String was purchased December 12, 2005.  Touch button is– large brass with fierce lion head escutcheon. Buttons of interest– vegetable ivory sew thrus, black glass with silver luster, brass, chinas, clear glass, small brass with celluloid, clear glass acorn self shank, brass with green faceted glass inset, vegetable ivory whistles, large composition with big abalone flakes and gold flecks, large white glass with pearly paint that flakes, DUG, ruby glass, black glass, N.R. Co. Goodyear rubbers, delicate stamped steel, waistcoats, composition, red-dyed horn whistle, extra large drum with target top and white glass inset, brass with glass insets, pewter with triangle design, large brass oval, small brass with paisley pattern celluloid inset, small caramel Victorian glass dome with red and blue flowers, small pictorials.

#23: String of 156 buttons. Fifth of five strings purchased from a Florida dealer that originated from a Rhode Island Estate. String was purchased December 12, 2005.  Touch button is large round milk glass disk Victorian with 4-way inset shank and molded design. Buttons of interest– many duplicates of buttons on previous four strings are found on this string as well. Buttons include composition, rubber, vegetable ivory sew thru and whistle, horn, black glass, black glass with luster, clear glass, ruby glass, brass, white metal, pictorials, chinas, waistcoat, brass with glass insets, chunky clear glass with sew thru shanks, black glass with molded designs, black glass with gold outlined designs, mottled vegetable ivory, composition with abalone flecks.

It Came in Pieces: Part 1 of 2

Buffum collection, inventory numbers 19 & 20

#19: String of 202 buttons. First of five string sections purchased from Florida seller. Strings originated from a Rhode Island estate. Originally there were six strings but someone else won the sixth string with a Billy Possum button on it. Purchased November 21, 2005. Touch button is medium vegetable ivory 2-hole sew thru. Buttons of interest– blue and white china buttons, clear glass sew thru, ruby glass 2-hole sew thru, brass and black glass waistcoat, variety of vegetable ivory whistle and sew-thru buttons, composition with pressed design of pansy, charm string glass various designs, brass with red glass inset, Jacksonian (or Jacksonian cousin) with patterned border and star center (Best Color), black glass with iridescent luster dot design, clam broth glass with pin shank, black glass snowflake, oval black glass with red, gray and goldstone spots, brass waistcoat with fabric and clear glass, white glass with green speckles on top, black glass with gold luster dog chasing bird, various waistcoast, charmstring, vegetable ivory, black glass, and chinas.

#20: String of 155 buttons. Second of five charm strings purchased through Florida dealer. Button strings were originally from a Rhode Island Estate. String was purchased December 12, 2005.  Touch button is extra large Ship of the Desert. Buttons of interest– tombac, large white glass with flaking pearly paint, vegetable ivory, composition, assorted brass, carved vegetable ivory acorn, clear glass sew thru shanks, black glass with Greek key, twinkle, matte black glass with shiny hinge design, charm string glass, brass pictorial, black glass molded in shell shape, large composition with large abalone flakes and goldstone, vegetable ivory whistles, assorted black glass geometrics, medium N. R. Co Goodyear 8-point star,  white glass fabric-like waistcoat with rosette shank, flat steel or pewter helmeted head, molded black glass with blue and red flowers, ruby glass, large openwork brass, horn.

It Began with a Colonial Pearl

Buffum collection, inventory #18

String of 185 buttons strung by Susan Buffum in November 2005, Westfield, MA. Button sources were various estate sales, antique shop, ebay, Brimfield and auction purchases. Touch button is Colonial pearl with pin shank. Buttons of interest– assorted brass botanicals, assorted steels, pewter with flower, white  metal, perfume, brass whistle, small brass drum with glass dot, metal with blue jewel, original blue tints, blued steel, brass ‘N’ with crown over it, numerous original red tints, stamped steel, openwork with steels, Golden Age, gilts, two-tone Paris back.

Made at Home

Buffum collection, inventory #17

String of 999 buttons strung by Susan Buffum and Kelly Buffum to demonstrate what a Victorian charm string in its entirety might look like, and as an heirloom for Kelly. Buttons of interest– numerous Victorian and earlier to Edwardian buttons in assorted materials. String includes brass picture, Jacksonian with riderless saddled horse, bear-shape, black glass, glass charm string, waistcoat, MOP, enamel, clear and colored glass, steel, pewter, horn, vegetable ivory, rubber, etc. buttons chosen from a collection of loose buttons from various estate sales, auctions, antique shops and Brimfield purchases. 

Touch Button with Inset Hide

Buffum collection, inventory #16

String of 454 buttons purchased from Alexandria, VA in August 2005. String arrived in pieces as original string had rotted. Restrung on waxed cord in mostly original order.  Touch button is large brass with some sort of hide inset (snakeskin, alligator or leather). Buttons of interest– brass with cut steel rim, brass with shell (shell cracked), brass (Superfin Paris), metal with celluloid, dyed vegetable ivory, brass openwork, brass (Extra Fein), hat-shaped brass with small etched design, assorted black glass, vegetable ivory, drum buttons, shell, horn sew-thru, carved shell, pressed horn, steel, rubber (N.R. Co. Goodyear’s P=T 1851), steel with realistic brass beetle, brass with domed glass center (Perfectionne Paris), carved abalone wit faceted steels, gorgeous “peacock eye” abalone shell button, medium Golden Age star (Best Quality), pewter, brass with crackle glass dome center, white glaze with brown speckled salt glaze top, ruby glass,  natural color horn with plate and loop, charm string glass, chased aluminum, lead moon/ stars,  brass open knot, brown glass w/faceted top and goldstone, small brass ‘Liberty/Union’ liberty cap, black glass geometrics and patterns, small brass drum with crossed swords, brass with galena and white glass with faint blue, kaleidoscope with brown spots, chine, whistle, molded top kaleidoscope, gray bell-shaped agate, blue bell shaped agate, brass with fabric, white glass, clambroth glass, various kaleidescopes, fabric with cone black glass inset, brass shooting stars, brass acorn, steel shamrock cluster on shell, gorgeous 2-color carved shell with faceted riveted steels, clear glass cube, vegetable ivory, original tints, assorted chinas, brass star, mourning button, diminutive enamel green on brass with steels at corners,small brass with celluloid, carved MOP, black glass with goldstone, oblong brown composition with abalone inset.

From a Friend

Buffum collection, inventory #15

String of approximately 300 buttons strung by a button friend in South Windsor, CT for the June 11, 2005 Northeast Regional Button Association ‘On Safari’ Auction.

Touch button is large MOP disk with plate & loop. Buttons of interest– numerous charm string glass, waistcoat, small brass pictures, paperweight with rose, small GAR cuff button, black glass, white glass, clambroth, MOP, New York New Haven Connecticut cuff button, cobalt glass. All buttons are diminutive to small in size. Beautiful!

Found in a Bean Pot

Buffum collection, inventory #14

String of 432 buttons from an Ohio estate via an antiques dealer in Florida.  Purchased June 1, 2005. String was found inside a hand-thrown, 3-handled, bean pot with lid. String was rotted. Restrung, and several broken buttons and miscellaneous items left off. Buttons are restrung in original order. Touch button is a cut Cincinnati Industrial Exposition souvenir medal. Buttons of interest– large brass helmeted head, black glass with red and gold luster, square wood, composition with red and black checked top, glass target, composition with abalone inlay, round black glass tile button with red/white/black top, purple abalone, assorted sew-thru composition, brass openwork ball, chinas,  black glass,  vegetable ivory, small brass picture buttons, ruby glass, original tints,  charm string glass, root beer glass with pin shank, small reflector, waistcoats, steels, black matte glass ball,  N.R. Co Goodyear rubber, horn whistle, 3 black glass with blue luster dog chasing bird, black glass with buckle, Jacksonian cousin eagle looking over right wing, various oblong and trapezoid-shapes in different materials, brass running spaniel, black glass with goldstone, brass well, brass OHIO state seal coat button (M. Caialey & Co Columbus O), carved abalone, amethyst glass, green glass, blue-dyed shell, twinkler, wallpaper pattern, pewter with purple tint, pewter with blue tint, large 4-hole bone button, brass squirrel in cage, MOP with steel escutcheon, medium Golden Age with flower (Rich Gold Color), brass letter ‘A’, small, brass man rowing with oar in shell-shaped vessel, flat top natural horn with abalone flecks, black glass tulip, white glass ball with brass pin shank. On the string are two large, pierced for threading, copper 1838 Liberty head United States One Cent coins.

Scenic Touch Button

Buffum collection, inventory #13

String of 117 buttons purchased April 22, 2005 from a man in Butler, PA. Touch button is x-large alpine village scene with mill and churches. Buttons of interest– large brass with silver print ring and red-orange glass inset, medium Golden Age flower in star (unable to read backmark due to tightness of buttons on string), General Service coat button (GS226A 25 in Tice), kaleidoscope blue and silver, bird cage shanks, black glass with spider and fly in web, various N.R. Co. Goodyear rubber buttons, medium sew thru rubber with four leaves, brass Calvary sleeve (CV21 59A Tice), General Service coat (Scovill Mfg. Co Waterbury), flecked composition, brass with high relief realistic beetle, medium Golden Age (Benedict & Burnham Extra), charm string glass, chinas, waistcoats, ruby glass, brass cuff with NC or NG and crest (J.H. Wilson Pat 1878 Phila), small United States of America with number ‘1’ in wreath

Viewing Charmstrings, Memory Strings and Friendship Strings as Historical Artifacts

By Susan Buffum

I did not get into button collecting back in 2002 with any particular thought in mind to collecting charmstrings, memory strings and friendship strings. Back then I wasn't even aware that there were such things. I’d never heard of the mid-1800’s to early 1900’s fad. I’d never seen one until I visited a fellow collector’s home and she showed me her prized charmstring. I’d been told to collect what I love when it comes to buttons- and seeing her charmstring, it was love at first sight. I started looking for them and found some in 2003 and have been finding them, as well as making a few of my own from antique buttons I’ve collected, ever since. The Civil War and Victorian eras are my favorite historical periods. I have come to view my charmstrings from these time periods as historical artifacts simply because they are a record of their times. By this I mean that there may be military buttons from as far back as Revolutionary War times forward found on these strings, souvenirs and mementos of the conflicts family members fought in. On some of the strings I own I have found souvenir medals and commemorative medallions pierced and strung on the button strings such as the Cincinnati Industrial Exposition medallion found on CS14, the British Victoria Regina coin/token dated 1849 depicting Hanover on horseback on the reverse side with the words ‘To Hanover 1837’ as found on CS35, and the medal commemorating the “9^th anniversary convention of the Firemen’s Association, Shamokin, PA, Sep 18-20, 1888” found on CS46. Other things I have found on the strings I have collected have been a doll size pot metal teaspoon, a very old and simple ring with a very basic faceted glass inset, assorted love tokens made from various coins, a bear claw, broken bits of jewelry, beads, tiny baskets carved from peach pits, assorted clock and watch keys (one shaped like a hatchet!). The most interesting string I have found, CS24, came with a bit of family history stating it had been used as a baby toy back in the 1870’s- long before people worried about infants choking on small objects! A charmstring can be a record of a family’s history through several generations.

Charmstrings are also a record of the advancement in button manufacturing techniques and the development of new materials from which buttons could be made.  From early Colonial buttons made of pewter, pearl, copper and horn we can trace the development of new materials such as hard rubber, glass and china, wood and celluloid among a few of the material buttons were being made from between 1850 and 1900. Strings in my collection range from very simple to quite elaborate; strings of mostly utilitarian buttons to strings of rather decorative buttons. Simple strings evoke a simpler life where perhaps a young lady wished to emulate her more financially well off peers and strung the buttons available to her through the family button box and those traded with her friends. Every string is different and has its own history to reveal.

That is why I seek them out and preserve them to the best of my ability. They are a record of their times. And every string has its own tale to tell.

With Jingle Bells Upon It

Buffum collection, inventory #12

String of 229 buttons purchased April 3, 2005 from Shelbyville, IN. Touch button is black glass with imitation fabric at center. Buttons if interest– black glass, vegetable ivory, composition, china, black glass with iridescent luster cottage and trees, waistcoat, medium and small brass jingle bells, oval black glass with red and green flowers, square stamped brass, brass with amethyst glass fly, brass with blue glass man with beard who faces right, Winona Special overall, nubbly clambroth with blue band, carved vegetable ivory ball, china with birdcage shank, small brass calf in stall, brass with black glass Jenny Lind. String has brass ring with faceted glass stone at one end.

Miss Jennie Moxley and Her Memory String

From Susan Buffum

 As many of you may know, my passion is charmstrings.  I have been collecting them since May 2003 when I purchased my first one.  I have since then added 71 other strings to my collection. Charmstrings compose the majority of my button collection. I love the idea of stringing buttons, making memories that will travel through time to future generations. I also like the lore of the charmstring...swapping and adding buttons to a string with the 1000th button being given, hopefully, by the man you will marry.

 Therefore, imagine my surprise and delight when randomly browsing ebay last September I typed in the search words ‘memory string’, and while paging down through the mainly book and music offerings,  I came across a small antique photograph of “Miss Jennie Moxley and her Memory String, Year 1867.”  The photo was taken at Ecker’s Gallery in Louisville Kentucky. It was meant to be!

  The original photograph is a diminutive 2 3/8 wide by 3 3/4 tall in sepia tones. It is very clear and shows Miss Jennie holding her string which appears to be in a long loop against the skirt of her dress. She must have been very proud of her memory string as she chose that among all her possessions to be photographed with.

   I feel very fortunate to own Miss Jennie’s photograph. It is a true treasure in my collection as it not only documents that young ladies were stringing buttons in 1867 but that they also prized their memory or charmstrings highly.

   I will continue to collect button strings and preserve them to be admired by future generations.   

                                                                     

Came In a Soap Box

Buffum collection, inventory #11

String of 240 buttons purchased April 1, 2005 from La Crescenta, CA. String had belonged to owner’s great-grandmother. Arrived in oblong leather covered Savon soap box in which it had always been stored. Touch button is x-large brass with hand holding flowers with steel centers. Buttons of interest– original tints red and blue, Statue of Liberty Button (1800’s commemorative), metal basket shaped, composition with flecks, black glass, black glass with silver beetle, caramel glass with molded design of bird and flowers, vegetable ivory, Jacksonian flowers in basket (Kendrick Extra), vegetable ivory sunflower, charm string glass, red composition with black wolf head, Colorado State seal button, green snail 4-hole, angel and knight pictorial, black glass, composition fish, small Ivoroid lily of the valley, black glass with red-gold luster, brass cuff eagle with shield (Goodwin Pat. Jul 75), small picture buttons

A Beautiful Touch Button

Buffum collection, inventory #10

String of 414 buttons purchased in 2005. South Carolina. Touch button is large brass openwork button with black and red paint on floral design. Buttons of interest– composition high relief spider, Paris back 1882, small brass hand with torch, medium transfer on pearl, blued steel, vegetable ivory, original tints (red), medium brass Lohengrin’s Farewell,, medium pierced brass cherub’s head, medium pierced brass man in hat with sword, large bird with wood background, brass windmill, cattails, villa, fan, pewter pagoda, small Pay Day brass overall, original tint blue-green leaf, brass NG Penn coat button (Horstmann & Bros. Phil.), brass MP coat (D. Evans & Co, N. Attleboro Mass), marbled  glass, small & medium Ivoroid with daisy, small riveted steel openwork, ruby glass, black glass, green glass with black rickrack trim, medium Wall of Jericho, metals

This String Came With Its Bill of Sale

Buffum collection, inventory #9

String of 273 buttons purchased from a lady in Madison, Wisconsin on September 8, 2004. She sent an original handwritten Bill of Sale dated 9/11/60 from Homestead Antiques, Rt. 1, Evergreen, Colorado with a purchase price of $9.00.  Buttons of interest– Touch button is large pressed/molded horn with design, large and medium brass with pearl center (very lovely!), large brass bat chasing moths pictorial, medium drum with milk glass leaf inset, love token 25 CENTS coin dated 1879 with face polished off and initial ‘N’ engraved, medium Golden Age with leaves (Benedict & Burnham), brass Ideal Clo. Co. with red shield inset, Civil War Infantry cuff button, numerous N.R. Co. Goodyear buttons, ruby glass, black glass, small Pierrot & Pierret, oblong rootbeer glass with acid-etched floral design, waistcoats,  molded clear glass some with paint back, charm string glass, shell, white glass, china, vegetable ivory, small Golden Age with 3 oak leaves (Benedict & Burnham), clam broth glass, inlay

Teddy Bear Button on a String

Buffum collection, inventory #7

String of 225 buttons strung by an 80-year old woman. Purchased summer 2004.  Buttons if interest– Touch button is large brass Teddy Roosevelt bear button, numerous small brass picture buttons including fox and grapes, woman at window with bird, Elizer at the Well, beehive, Egyptian buildings, castles, fantastic beasts, windmill, mills, stag head, Fop, alpine climber, The Kill, other pictorials including metal owl with original purple tint, metal and brass Lion of Lucerne, birds, woodcocks on tree trunk, cherub walking with lion, In the Doghouse, Oriental, elaborate hinge with padlock, black glass, brass openwork– a wonderful string with nice variety of small pictorials.

Two Part String

Buffum collection, inventory numbers 6 & 8

String of 274 buttons comprised of two separate charm strings from Ohio. Large string purchased in August of 2004; smaller string purchased in November of 2004 from Blaine, Ohio.  Buttons of interest on string– Touch button is large brass with celluloid disk at center, early rifleman brass disk button with powder horn and 16 stars (Imperial Standard), GAR coat (no backmark), pressed horn Liberty head with beaded border, spiral shell button, medium cobalt blue glass disk with silver paint, Porridge Time small brass picture, small Pierrot & Pierrett, brass with red glass disk center with acid-etched bird pictorial, natural horn with molded design, black glass, steel, brass, vegetable ivory, composition with bow pictorial, Buckeye Brand overall, Cherub & pillar pictorial, ruby glass, steel-rimmed brass eagle cuff (Goodwins PAT 27 71), black glass with silver luster Jumbo elephant, chinas, brass with etched well design, whistle buttons, oval black glass whistle with goldstone, rubber with N.R. Co. Goodyear’s P=T 1851 backmark,  birds under bush brass pictorial, oval ruby glass, brass Trumpeter of Krakow, Oriental theme pictorials, service cuff button, bird on branch with lined background cuff, steel, plain brass button (Rich Gold Color)- string ends with large faceted cobalt blue glass bead.

An Inherited String With a Plumed Knight Campaign Button

Buffum collection, inventory #5

String of 510 buttons purchased in January of 2004. String belonged to seller's mother-in-law who had inherited the family charmstring begun by the oldest sister in Nebraska. Length of string is 111 inches..  Buttons if interest– extra large brass bee pictorial with faceted steels at end of wings, Paris backs (1883, 1882), extra large brass and steel Pierrot & Pierret, large Scaramouche, large Over The Wall, large Roland, large Crane in the Reeds, large Tom Thumb, large Bird in Garden Window, Putti at the Fountain original red tint, all 3 sizes Audubon original red tint, composition wolf’s head, small & medium Trumpeter of Krakow, James G. Blaine 1884 Plumed Knight campaign button (feather), Omaha C.T. Co. trolley uniform coat (Waterbury Button Co.), eagle with shield (Thos. Hood Phil.), Railway P.O.D. Mail Service uniform (Scovill MFG Co Waterbury), Nailsea glass, GAR cuff (J.A. Joel New York), numerous picture buttons in a small and medium size in brass, steel. White metal with and without original tints of blue and red, black glass, Aristocrat black glass with silver and gold design, head buttons, vegetable ivory, chinas, glass, perfume buttons, ball-shaped, pewters, horn, MOP– a very exquisite string of buttons.