VICTORIAN BUTTONS & FABRIC DYED TO MATCH

Victorian Buttons and Fabric Dyed with Lily-of-Valley Leaves

When I found these Victorian buttons, I knew that they would have had "language of the flowers" significance. Victorians used pictorial symbols, often to express sentiment. But, last Spring, I also got the notion that dying fabric with lily-of-the valley would be the perfect accompaniment for these antique buttons. Lily-of-the-valley leaves makes a great dye.

Here is one recipe:
Chop two pounds of fresh, mature leaves from a flowering plant into small pieces and add twice the amount of water. Wear rubber gloves and take care with handling and disposal of water. All parts of lily-of-the-valley are toxic. Boil, simmer for one hour, and strain. Prepare your natural fiber, light-colored fabric by simmering for an hour with a plant dye fixative of four parts cold water to one part vinegar. Wash out fixative by rinsing until water runs clear. Simmer wet fabric in dye until desirable color is obtained. Your fabric will dry lighter. Launder in cold water, separately.

About the buttons:
These five matched black glass Victorian buttons each have a 1" diameter and  are decorated with lily-of-the-valley sprays. The pattern is set in a recessed, matte black bowl, filled with a background of leaves. The bellflowers are raised and polished glossy. A brass inset on the backs for attachment. Stamped on reverse: "Pat'd Dec 28, 1880." Tiny flea bites to front edges. One bigger bite to back of one button and pressed mold crazing evident to backs. (D.H.)

~More about these buttons~

 A MODERNIST COPPER AND ENAMEL BRACELET

1950s Modernist Bracelet

"Beatnik" was the key word for 1958, according to author Susie Dent, who studies such things. The beatnik revolution defines a movement by artists and writers against the establishment in the 50's and early 60s. Fashion reflected the sentiment. Women wore tight pants with loose shirts and sneakers, often all black clothing. There was an interest in beads, ethnic and handmade jewelry, and materials of choice were sterling and copper. Sleek studio jewelry of the earlier Art Moderne period provided a solid framework for the "hip cat" jewelry of the fifties.

This 1950s link bracelet combines the warmth of copper and the cool beauty of turquoise enamel. Calla leaves with crisply defined veins, parade in a line. They will look beautiful at any angle as they dance across your wrist. The underlying links are s-curves. 7 3/8" long, unsigned and very good condition. (D.H.)

 ~more Retro and Modernist Jewelry~