Truly Victorian

Elizabeth W · Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:31 pm Post subject: Are these buttons period?

Hi all, During September I was in Bath (UK) for the Jane Austen Festival when I found these buttons.
http://trulyvictorian.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3937
http://trulyvictorian.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3934
I have 16 of them and my initial thought when I bought them was that they would look fabulous down the front of a black taffeta natural form or second bustle dress (at the moment I'm leaning towards the later end of natural form c.1880-82). I bought some black silk taffeta from Fabric.com a few weeks ago but now I'm beginning to doubt my judgement in picking these buttons. If I'm going to make a feature of them I want to make sure they are period.
So I'm looking for a second and third opinion on my choice, do they look period to you? and does anybody know of a resource to help date buttons?
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Elizabeth W.
The Magpie Costumer

Cathi H · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 5:51 am Post subject:

I know that Truly Victorian is a Victorian forum but it’s nice to be able to talk about Regency too.
So, we were both in Bath. Not just the two of us as the (world) record for the number of people in Regency costume was set at 420, I think. Were you there for the whole week? Did you like it? The town is beautiful and perfect for this event.
My husband and I have only taken part (for the last 3 years) in the Promenade and the Grand Ball. Next year we will just go for the Promenade (it’s surprising and really nice to be in a large town and to come across so many people in costume). But we have been won over by Llandrindod Wells and that’s where our interest now lies. What a pity Australia is so far away!
Do you have any photos?
I’ve only put 3 of mine in the gallery, as I don’t know if I can make them public without people’s permission, even if they were willing to be photographed. (Any opinions?) It’s a pity as there were some beautiful hats.
Sorry about the buttons, I know nothing.

diana · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject:

What are the buttons made of? The second one looks like the ones I've seen at Joann's however they are plastic. If you don't care that they are plastic, at least the design looks p.c.
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Diana

Mississippi Diamond

Elizabeth W · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:33 pm Post subject:

Diana, it says bohemian glass on the card and I have no reason to doubt it, and the photos are the same buttons the first one is taken with flash and the second is without. I was trying to give an impression of their iridescence with the flash photo.

Cathi,
I didn't get many pictures, I took a few during the promenade but mostly of funny or incongruous images like Regency ladies drinking from a starbucks cup or taking photographs. This came at the end of a 6 week trip around the UK and a week in London with a tour organised by Sense and Sensibility I was rather over being photographer. I was there for most of the week, but booked my accommodation too late to get a room in Bath for the last weekend of the festival so I went north to Derby (and saw costumes from The Duchess at Keddleston hall).
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Elizabeth W.
The Magpie Costumer

rangerfeline · Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:29 pm Post subject:

The only actual period buttons I've ever gotten to handle, myself, were surprisingly modern-looking (at Lacis, iirc). Yours are very pretty, they should go great!