Buttons

Generally buttons did not appear until the 14th century. There are some objects that could be buttons dating to the Iron Age and Roman periods, these look like toggles.

There are 2 types of metal buttons:

1. Cast buttons are solid with an integral loop. 1300 - 1600 AD. Cast can also have a separate wire loop, slightly later up to 1800 AD.
2. Composite are two or more pieces of sheet metal soldered together with a loop that passes through. 1500 - 1800 AD.

Large and flat buttons are generally 17th century or later.

Example Description:

A complete Post Medieval cast copper alloy button. The button has been cast in one piece.  The front and the back are both domed. It has an integral loop with circular hole. The button is complete, and is in good condition. The button is 13.2mm long, 9.5mm in diameter and weighs 2.44 grams. Read (2005) page 52, no.182 illustrates a similar button which he suggests dates from the mid 17th to mid-18th centuries.

Example records

• Example record for a composite button
  Record number: SUSS-08C046
  Broadperiod: Post Medieval
  County of discovery: East Sussex
  Stable url: http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/207999
• Example record for a Post Medieval button
  Record number: YORYM-C959D6
  Broadperiod: Post Medieval
  County of discovery: North Yorkshire
  Stable url: http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/396644
• Example record for a Medieval button
  Record number: LANCUM-07B6A5
  Broadperiod: Medieval
  County of discovery: Cambridgeshire
  Stable url: http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/283838