This vintage lot includes five substantial mid-century buttons in deep navy and midnight-blue marbled finishes. It contains two styles: one oversized 1.5-inch focal coat button with an Art Deco geometric design of stylized chevrons, crescent arches, and silver-white highlights in the carved channels; and four matching 1.15-inch, four-hole jacket buttons with concave rims and organic swirls. The backs are flat, with faint manufacturing marks and typical vintage storage scuffs. All five buttons are structurally sound, with no deep chips or cracks.
• Size: One 1.5-inch (38 mm) focal button and four 1.15-inch (30 mm) coordinating buttons
• Material: Early hard-molded casein, or milk-stone polymer (assumed based on the characteristic loud click)
• Manufacturing origin: France; Art Deco design
Dating to the late 1930s or 1940s, these buttons reflect a period when European manufacturers used casein—a hard plastic made from milk protein curdled with formaldehyde—to produce decorative garment hardware. French artisans favored casein for its ability to take deep dyes and be carved or machine-turned into geometric designs resembling dyed horn, tortoiseshell, and polished jet. These heavy-gauge buttons were likely made as a matching set for winter overcoats, wool capes, or double-breasted outerwear, with the larger button as a focal point and the smaller ones for the body or cuffs.The collection’s crisp geometric design and stormy marbling capture the style of Art Deco-era tailoring. The large button’s carved chevrons contrast with the softer patterns of the smaller pieces, giving the set a distinctive period look. It could be used to restore a vintage garment or added to a textile collection.
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