B is for Buttons!
mandy shaw
My jelly bean vending machine put to much better use!
B is for buttons which are one of my most favourite things in life. Big, little, bright or just white they give personailty and meaning to the simplest of projects. I adore collecting buttons and spend many hours sorting them all into different tins and jars including an old Jelly Bean vending machine! I simply find it very hard to throw them away. Here is a little list of some interesting and fascinating facts about buttons.
Buttons have been around as early as 2,000 BC with the Egyptians
Button comes from the French word ‘bouton’ which means bud, or knob.
The first button hole was not invented until 1400’s, loops were used prior to that.
Napoleon Bonaparte is credited with putting buttons on his sailor’s sleeves to stop them from wiping their noses on them!
In 1844 the mayor of New York, James Haroer, set up the first uniformed police force. The uniforms has large copper buttons hence the name cops or coppers!
In the 1800s hotel bellboys were referred to as buttons, no doubt for the many buttons on their uniforms.
Button is a proper name!
The richest and most lavish buttons were made in the 1700s and showed off the wearer’s wealth.
In the mid 1800’s young American girls collected buttons on a string known as a charm or love string. The legend said that when they had collected 999 they would see their future husband.
London barrow boys, costermongers, became the first Pearly Kings and Queens of London. There were 28 families, one for each borough. You cannot call yourself a true Pearly unless you are related to one of those families.
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