four hole button

[donkarlos]

Possibly silver plated at some point. The holes are in a dome - there is some letting on the less - silver side.
Not sure about age of it. Found in wooded old road.

 

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[BigBobBow]

That's an nice old underwear button, probably dating around 1820's to 1870's. After that most were made of milk glass.

 

[donkarlos]

No kidding? I thought those made of bone or antler. It sure is the right size and shape though

 

[BigBobBow]

Glass has been crafted into buttons since the 18th century in Britain. 'Drop' buttons, or those constructed of globs
of glass and polished or faceted and mounted on a U- shaped metal shank (rather like a staple),were imported from
Britain. Blown glass buttons with glass shanks appear in the 19th century and perhaps previously. Blown glass with
metal shanks were developed after 1900. Lacey glass, both that of the pressed tableware fame and look a likes, was
produced from 1825 to 1870, primarily for women's clothing. In 1840, milk glass buttons, simple utilitarian two to four hole sew* through
styles of opaque white pressed glass, began to replace brass and gilt buttons in men's wear.

 

[donkarlos]

Great. This one though is all metal. Good news is I cleaned it a bit and it seems to say "NE PLUS ULTRA" on it.

 

[BigBobBow]

You can research that back mark to try and nail down the date. A quick look at what I saw, show 1880's 1920's. That quote, which stands for "of finest quality" was seen with D. Evans back marks in the 1860's. Keep digging them signals.

 

[surf]

...Blown glass with
metal shanks were developed after 1900...

Hey BigBobBow,

Ms. Marcel (http://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1042&context=utk_chanhonoproj) is simply wrong about this date, and a couple other fine points.

The "Ne Plus Ultra" button is identified here, on page 51 as a "sew through (face only) trouser button" Buttoning Down Archaeology
JENNIE LINDBERGH "Ne Plus Ultra" was supposed to have been cut into the stone of the pillars of Hercules, and roughly translates to the "acme; highest level of excellence; flawlessness."

These black glass buttons were dug from a privy that dated roughly 1870-1880:

 

[donkarlos]

Wow you guys nailed this one down. Thank you for the written info and some great links. It is certainly the one on page 51 handrawn on the bottom left. Never thought it would get identified this well. Thanks

 

[BigBobBow]

I'm sorry Surf.. am I missing something? I stated 1870's in an earlier post. "That's an nice old underwear button, probably dating around 1820's to 1870's." I feel it could easily fall anywhere in that time frame and years after as an extra/replacement. donkarlos, nice large cent you got there also buddy.

 

[surf]

I'm sorry Surf.. am I missing something?

Hey BigBob,

Perhaps you are. Your post #4 talks about glass buttons. I'm not quite sure why, in the case of donkarlos' metal trouser button, but there it is. The source you took your information from was a graduate student's thesis. It contained some erroneous information. It caught my attention, and I so noted it, in post #7 above. If you check that second link, not only will you find some excellent information about buttons, but you'll find the "Ne Plus Ultra" button identified as a trouser button on page 51.

I have no doubt that similar metal buttons were underwear buttons. I dug up a bucket full of these type behind an old knitting mill, years ago. Unfortunately, not being into old crusty, rusty buttons, at the time, I reburied them. But I also had never dug a bucket-o-buttons before, so I had'ta take a photo:

 

[BigBobBow]

Ok. sorry, I have been misunderstood. I in no way was saying his button was a glass button. I also saw the link you shared. He was looking for a date and I am pretty sure he has a good idea now. By the way, I have lots of metal underwear buttons in my collection at this time, very few have back marks, but some do. That was a nice haul you dug there surf, I probably would of been overwhelmed and reburied them also. LOL take care

 

[donkarlos]

What-in-the! Nice button cache or button spill..


.. donkarlos, nice large cent you got there also buddy.[/QUOTE]
Thanks I don't get loads of old coins so that 1820 still blows my mind.

 

[donkarlos]

Whoa - nice button cache!

.. donkarlos, nice large cent you got there also buddy.

Thanks - I don't get too many old coins so that 1820 still blows my mind.

 

[BigBobBow]

I am always amazed at what can pop out of the ground. I dug two 1817 larges side by side once. I have about 32 larges now. Oldest is 1798. Keep swinging and dig everything!

 

[jess_m]

Hey BigBobBow,

Ms. Marcel (http://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1042&context=utk_chanhonoproj) is simply wrong about this date, and a couple other fine points.

The "Ne Plus Ultra" button is identified here, on page 51 as a "sew through (face only) trouser button" Buttoning Down Archaeology
JENNIE LINDBERGH "Ne Plus Ultra" was supposed to have been cut into the stone of the pillars of Hercules, and roughly translates to the "acme; highest level of excellence; flawlessness."

These black glass buttons were dug from a privy that dated roughly 1870-1880:

Hello, I know I’m a few years late to the party 😂 but I just dug up one of these nu plus ultra metal buttons and would love to find out more but the link doesn’t seem to work for me 🤷🏻‍♀️ I got this one, 6 the same size with no writing one them, 2 smaller ones that say double-ring and 1 smaller one with no holes, maybe a press stud or something, plain no writing or anything all from less then a square meter. Do u think it was all from the same piece of clothing and if so Would love to know more history and what piece of clothing, if that’s even possible to find out 😂🤷🏻‍♀️ any help in the right direction would be greatly appreciated 🤞🏻😁