Edwardian Silver Buttons
Edwardian silver buttons are elegant dress accessories designed to elevate period attire, prized by collectors for their intricate floral and botanical motifs.
Edwardian silver buttons
Edwardian silver buttons are charming dress accessories typically encountered as complete boxed sets rather than individual pieces. These small dress fastenings frequently appear alongside matching belt buckles, housed within their original velvet, silk or leatherette presentation cases.
The objects on this page originate predominantly from the early twentieth century, spanning dates around nineteen hundred alongside related items from eighteen ninety. Common motifs across the selection include roses, shamrocks and stylised maiden designs reflective of the period.
Buyers browsing this inventory will find examples representing both traditional Edwardian taste and the flowing curves of the Art Nouveau style. Most surviving sets retain their original fitted boxes, which enhances their appeal for collectors of vanity items.
Manufacturing and Materials
These pieces are constructed from sterling silver, utilising casting techniques to achieve high-relief decorative surfaces. Metalwork of this period often relies on detailed hand-chasing to refine botanical motifs and linear elements.
Presentation packaging forms an integral part of the manufacturing process, pairing the metalwork with interior linings of silk and velvet. Outer cases are typically fashioned from leatherette, designed to protect the delicate dress accessories during storage.
Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical UK retail prices for edwardian silver buttons, calculated from the Sellingantiques database of over a million retail prices indexed since 2003. This retail price guide relies exclusively on Sellingantiques data; no external sources or auction records are used, so the figures do not describe the wider market.
Quality and Craftsmanship
Distinctions in quality often rest upon the crispness of the cast metalwork and the depth of the botanical detailing. Finer examples display sharp definition in the petals of roses or the organic lines of maiden designs.
The completeness and original condition of the accompanying fitted case also influence the overall standard of a set. Well-preserved silk and velvet linings that retain their structural integrity elevate the piece significantly.
James Deakin & Sons·Charles S Green
The Edwardian Silver Buttons Glossary
- Sterling silver
- A silver alloy containing ninety-two point five percent pure silver by mass, standard for quality British plate and small wares of this era. It provides both durability and a bright finish for detailed dress items.
- Art Nouveau
- An international style of art and architecture most popular during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It is characterised by intricate linear designs and flowing organic motifs inspired by climbing plants and natural forms.
- Leatherette
- A form of synthetic leather used widely for the outer covering of presentation boxes in the period. It protected the fitted velvet and silk interiors while offering a neat exterior finish.
- Cast silver
- Silver shaped by pouring molten metal into a prepared mould to establish the primary form. Further hand-finishing was routinely applied to sharpen the surface details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Edwardian silver buttons?
Edwardian silver buttons are small decorative fasteners produced during the early twentieth century, usually cast in sterling silver with botanical or figurative motifs.
They were commonly manufactured in sets of four or six to fasten ladies' garments or blouses, frequently supplied in purpose-built presentation cases.
How were these buttons used?
These pieces served as functional yet decorative fastenings on fashionable garments, cuffs and collars during the Edwardian era. Their ornate designs allowed them to double as visible jewellery elements on high-collared dresses.
Many sets were sold as gifts in fitted boxes lined with silk or velvet, intended for preservation on a dressing table.
How do I store silver buttons?
Silver dress accessories are best kept in their original velvet or silk-lined presentation cases to prevent surface scuffing and tarnishing. Minimising exposure to atmospheric moisture helps preserve both the metal and the fabric linings.
Handling the pieces with clean hands reduces the transfer of oils that can accelerate oxidisation on sterling silver surfaces.
How do I identify Art Nouveau buttons?
Art Nouveau buttons feature characteristic whiplash lines, stylised floral patterns and organic motifs inspired by natural plant forms. These designs avoid rigid symmetry in favour of flowing, undulating contours.
Such pieces often depict maiden figures or stylised blossoms rather than traditional geometric patterns.