Cute as Buttons

The New Jersey State Button Society will hold its fall show and competition in Titusville.

By: Susan Van Dongen
   The definition of a "button man" — a gangland term for a hit man — is very different from the button men and women of the New Jersey State Button Society. It’s a statewide non-profit organization for residents of the Garden State and tri-state area who enjoy collecting buttons and delving into their history.
   "We sometimes call ourselves buttoneers, but generally it’s just button collectors," says Jim Albanowski, first vice president of the NJSBS and public relations director for the National Button Society. His wife, Jane, is the president of the NJSBS.
   "She used to sew and along the way began to really look at buttons," Mr. Albanowski says. "My entrance into collecting came through model railroading. I collect railroad and trolley artifacts, including buttons."
   The couple has just returned from the National Button Society convention in Dallas, Texas, held twice a year. The NJSBS also has a regular show and competition, with the next — the 2007 Fall Show and Competition — happening at the Union Fire Hall in Titusville Sept. 8. The event will include juried button contests, a raffle and a display of the 60th anniversary quilt, handmade by NJSBS members to celebrate the society’s founding in 1941.
   For the contests, the group sponsors awards for special arrangements of certain types of buttons, for example "black glass buttons with pictures," or "metal picture buttons."
   "We put different combinations of these things together and the judges will look for completeness, or often just the rarity," Mr. Albanowski says. "We also have people who craft ‘studio buttons,’ solely for the button collecting hobby, although a few sell them commercially."
   New Jersey has a long history of beautifully crafted studio buttons, according to Mr. Albanowski.
   William Iorio of the former Iorio Cut Glass Factory in Flemington took the reins from his father, Louis, and became a noteworthy glass cutter and glass restorer. However, he went on to be better known for his colorful buttons and paperweights. Mr. Iorio’s buttons were marked with a small cane containing an "I" and his paperweights are signed or acid-marked "W. IORIO."
   For the event in Titusville, the central presentation will be on "Livery Crest Buttons," a program given by Deborah Hanson, a collector and dealer of livery buttons based in Boston, Mass. It’s part of an original talk program she co-authored with the late John Whiteford.
   "Beginning in the 1750s, crest livery buttons became the accepted household uniform button for men servants in England and other parts of Europe, from coachmen and stable boys to the butlers," Ms. Hanson says.
   The crests originated around the time of the Crusades. When knights in armor were covered from head to toe, you couldn’t tell who was friend or foe. So they developed emblems — or crests — that would rise above their helmets. They’d also have different colors and images on their shields. All of these different details identified who the person was and who they were in alliance with.
   "But as knights in armor came to an end, there was little need to identify individuals by their family crests or coats of arms," Ms. Hanson says. "In the mid-18th century, buttons became popular and those (crest, shield and other) images were transferred onto the buttons as the family’s coat of arms. Some of these images (would appear) on their coaches and other things, in order to show their riches. They became more of a matter of status, more in the realm of fashion."
   Most livery buttons were made of metal but some were manufactured from horn, pearl and glass mounted in metal. Some are rare and button collectors get quite excited to have a glimpse, for example of any naval crown buttons.
   "If you see a button with a naval crown, this is one of the most rare to find," Ms. Hanson says. "These buttons would be bestowed on the first man who boarded an enemy ship — and lived — so it was quite an honor."
   Aside from railroad and trolley buttons, Mr. Albanowski admires uniform buttons, formerly worn by employees of utility companies. Before identification tags, these buttons would indicate that the wearer was gainfully employed by a gas or electric company.
   "So when they came to the customer to collect, you would know (this person was legitimate)," he says. "There’s a very complicated history with these buttons, but this is what we do — we educate, share and help people with the hobby."
The New Jersey State Button Society’s 2007 Fall Show and Competition will be held at the Union Fire Company fire hall, 1396 River Road (Route 29), Titusville, Sept. 8, 9:30 a.m. Free admission. (732) 422-3677; www.newjerseystatebuttonsociety.com