|
CURRENT EXHIBITS
BUTTONS
The idea of collecting buttons started in the late 1880’s, when young girls would create “charm strings” with them. The purpose was to gather one thousand buttons on a string, and when completed, legend has it, that the girl would meet her future husband.
Buttons have been saved in tins and sewing baskets for generations, because they were intended for future use, or because they held special memories or because they were just too pretty to discard. But it was in the late 1930’s, during the Depression, when the hobby of button collecting really started, with the formation of the National Button Society in 1938, and followed by Button Societies in many states.
This display case features children’s buttons. Of particular interest is the collection of
“Kiddy” glass buttons, manufactured in West Germany
in the mid 1900’s. Also in this display are some of
the buttons that JHB produced for twenty years, starting
in 1977 for the commemoration of the 75th
anniversary of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, by Beatrix
Potter. There
is a card that shows plastic buttons by Spring
Industries c2005 that feature Winnie the Pooh and
friends; Winnie and Tiger are also featured on four
buttons made of tie fabric.
A whimsical card of heart shaped buttons, some
books and crafts made out of plain buttons complete the
display.
On display in this case there is an assortment of cards of buttons of diverse materials. Dating back to the nineteen century there are cards of cranberry colored glass buttons, inlaid horn buttons, waistcoat buttons and three framed cards with a variety of black glass buttons. Also, there is a card of china stencils, manufactured from the 1840’s on in France, England and on Long Island in the U.S. The large buttons called “Gay Nineties” were produced from the 1890’s into the early years of the twentieth century and were used on coats and capes. The celluloid buttons are examples of the first synthetic material used to manufacture buttons. Two cards feature modern glass buttons, manufactured after 1918: one features clear, transparent glass buttons in assorted shapes; the other is a card of seventy-two diminutives, less than 3/8 of an inch in size. The case also contains a salesman card, a frame with items commonly found in old sewing baskets, a string of one thousand pearl buttons, and some button books and magazines.
Blue Water Buttoneers, a button club in the St Clair/Macomb region, set up
these button displays. By meeting regularly, members study, preserve, display and enjoy buttons, sharing information and forming special bonds. For more information call Marlene at (586) 468-4365 or Ivonne at (810) 329-5117
PINK DEPRESSION GLASSWARE
From the late 1920's through the early 1940's manufactures helped bring a little bit of joy into a very dreary period of history by manufacturing what we now refer to as "Depression Glass". Depression Glass was mainly of a poor quality, yet it came in several lovely colors and patterns.
Pink, green, amber, cobalt blue, opaque white and iridescent colors were some of the colors manufactured during that time. Names like Cameo, Mayfair, Princess and Royal Lace were given to the patterns to give the impression of better times and better lifestyles during a time when many people struggled through the Great Depression.
Depression Glass was very affordable, and most could be purchased at the local dime store. During the difficult years of the Great Depression, when a loaf of bread cost a nickel, it wasn't uncommon to be able to purchase a lovely piece of this glassware for the same price. Manufacturers and retail stores offered Depression glassware as free gifts when a certain dollar amount of other merchandise was purchased. Sometimes movie theaters would offer a free piece of Depression glassware with the purchase of a ticket, and with an oil change at a gas station a free punch bowl and cups would sometimes be offered.
What was once cheap glassware has, today, become valued collectors items. Stop in for a visit at the Octagon House and see for yourself why Depression Glass is still popular over 70 years later.
This Depression glassware collection has been graciously loaned by
Hildred Corbett.
Do you have a unique collection to
exhibit? Please visit our Display
Your Collection page for more details.
|
|