✅ SOLVED Age of shell button

[invent4hir]

All, I found this button made of shell (I think) on top of the ground about 4 feet from where I dug this one-piece button. Other things dug in the vicinity were a LC, several other one-piece buttons, and a Scovill button - to name a few. The stone house that once stood there was built before 1818 and torn down in the late 1930s. Any help w/ the age would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

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[Evan in CA]

Looks like a mother of peals button, very old I don?t now what years they were used

 

[Lenrac2]

Nice finds!

 

[invent4hir]

Looks like a mother of peals button, very old I don?t now what years they were used

Evan, thanks. I group MoP & shell together. Based on what I've read there was a demand for these buttons in the early 20th c. Just wonder if its older.

 

[invent4hir]

Nice finds!

Lenrac2, thanks. First place I detected in over 20 years not detected previously. Found most everything last year, but returned this year and detected between a woven wire fence and a rock (12" wide) w/ my Sharpshooter coil. That is where the tiny Imperial Standard button was found. Guess it pays to detect between a rock and a hard place! BTW I gave that button to a 10 year-old boy who along w/ his mom was picking up some tips.

 

[villagenut]

These two were found on a late 1800s site and are about 1.25 inch in diameter. They are very fragile, I dont know how they lasted very long as they were used daily back then. I would not recommend any water cleaning or a lot of handling if it is this same type shell....Buttons are cool finds, always a welcome find for me.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I've found a few examples of 'shell' buttons on c1830 - 60 sites as well.
The examples I found were either two or four hole design.

The button you found looks to be a two-hole design.
Dave

 

[invent4hir]

These two were found on a late 1800s site and are about 1.25 inch in diameter. They are very fragile, I dont know how they lasted very long as they were used daily back then. I would not recommend any water cleaning or a lot of handling if it is this same type shell....Buttons are cool finds, always a welcome find for me.

View attachment 1936166

villagenut, thanks for the examples and cleaning advice. Because the one I found was on the surface, it was already clean, so I put it in a 2"x2" coin holder for the time being.

 

[invent4hir]

I've found a few examples of 'shell' buttons on c1830 - 60 sites as well.
The examples I found were either two or four hole design.

The button you found looks to be a two-hole design.
Dave

Hi Dave, the buttons you found are really detailed and appear in good shape! I'm reading the article "Development of the American Pearl Shell Button Industry", which discusses production in America & abroad rather than specifics on how to date a button. Still its a start...

 

[villagenut]

Those coin holders are a bit of a squeeze, i would think, for a thin shell button. Be careful

 

[invent4hir]

Those coin holders are a bit of a squeeze, i would think, for a thin shell button. Be careful

villagenut, thanks for the concern. The button is so tiny that it seems to fit in a dime holder okay.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Hi Dave, the buttons you found are really detailed and appear in good shape! I'm reading the article "Development of the American Pearl Shell Button Industry", which discusses production in America & abroad rather than specifics on how to date a button. Still its a start...

As you know buddy, unless they're set in brass or have some other metal attached, these tend to be 'eyeball finds' in the field.
I look at all shell, bone and glass button finds as a bonus.
Dave

 

[invent4hir]

As you know buddy, unless they're set in brass or have some other metal attached, these tend to be 'eyeball finds' in the field.
I look at all shell, bone and glass button finds as a bonus.
Dave

Dave, I couldn't agree more. That little button is the one artifact I'm keeping in my collection from that property - the rest went to the historical society. Best of luck detecting - can't wait to see you next great find.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Dave, I couldn't agree more. That little button is the one artifact I'm keeping in my collection from that property - the rest went to the historical society. Best of luck detecting - can't wait to see you next great find.

You're a very generous guy to always be donating a portion your finds, I tend to keep the good stuff for myself.

Thanks for the compliment too
This morning I'm heading back to a hay field I detected on Friday, the weather looks pretty mild here today.
I found this Plumb Hammer there on Friday, I'll likely tumble it with some other stuff next week.

Best of luck to you buddy,
Dave

 

[invent4hir]

You're a very generous guy to always be donating a portion your finds, I tend to keep the good stuff for myself.

Thanks for the compliment too
This morning I'm heading back to a hay field I detected on Friday, the weather looks pretty mild here today.
I found this Plumb Hammer there on Friday, I'll likely tumble it with some other stuff next week.

Best of luck to you buddy,
Dave

Dave, thanks for the kudos. IMHO each detectorist has the right to do with their finds as they see fit (finder's keepers). After all if not for the detectorist, the artifacts would still be buried and possibly dissolving back into the earth.

What a cool hammer head. I found (what I think) is the left half of one of those at my last permission. Cleaned it up, painted it w/ Rust Reformer, and gave it to the owner (a local park district), along w/ a bunch of other iron goodies. Hope you have success today. Just heard it pour rain here - so not much chance of me going out this AM. But we needed the rain more than I needed to detect!

 

[colby65]

shells have rings, much like tree rings, which give clues about oyster growth and age. Scientists can use local conditions (i.e. environmental clues - cold winters with slow growth and a dense age ring, warm summers with faster growth and a less dense ring) to determine the age of the Shell.

 

[invent4hir]

shells have rings, much like tree rings, which give clues about oyster growth and age. Scientists can use local conditions (i.e. environmental clues - cold winters with slow growth and a dense age ring, warm summers with faster growth and a less dense ring) to determine the age of the Shell.

colby65, thanks for the insight & welcome to TNet! I remember reading about the rings somewhere. I should've been more specific and asked about when was the button made versus the age of the shell used to make the button.

 

[invent4hir]

Well, the best laid plans...Rather than keep the shell button for my collection I decided to give it as an early birthday gift to a lady who used to live on the property where it was found. This Thursday she'll turn 1-0-3! See below for a picture of the button along w/ her b/d card & note I put inside. Couldn't find a card for 103, so improvised. If not for her, I'd never would have found where the old stone house once stood.

Because she likes history she enjoyed hearing how I found this button and mentored the 10 year-old boy.

 

[tamrock]

When I was a kid visiting my grandpa in Burlington Iowa probably around 1963-64, he'd take me fishing or just for walks along the banks and bluffs of the Mississippi. I remember seeing all these shells with multiple holes in them all along the sandy banks and asking my grandpa how those hole got in all these shells. He told me of a once large button factory that was just above the banks of the river was there above where all those holed mussel shells were found. I've found a few old shell button here and there and each one I find brings back that old memory of me and grandpa just hanging out so long ago.
https://www.thehawkeye.com/article/20170528/lifestyle/305289947

 

[invent4hir]

When I was a kid visiting my grandpa in Burlington Iowa probably around 1963-64, he'd take me fishing or just for walks along the banks and bluffs of the Mississippi. I remember seeing all these shells with multiple holes in them all along the sandy banks and asking my grandpa how those hole got in all these shells. He told me of a once large button factory that was just above the banks of the river was there above where all those holed mussel shells were found. I've found a few old shell button here and there and each one I find brings back that old memory of me and grandpa just hanging out so long ago.
https://www.thehawkeye.com/article/20170528/lifestyle/305289947

tamrock, thanks for the info on the shell button industry in your area. Glad you were able to spend time w/ your grandpa & that you hold on to those memories.