 Modern satsuma (oriental ceramic) English setter dog button. |  |
As a collector you have lots of choices on how to put a collection together — much depending on your main focus. Generally, button collectors try to have examples in their collection showing a wide variety of dog breeds, made out of as many different types of materials as possible.
Make sure you look for both old and modern buttons, showing dogs performing as many different activities as they can.
A lot of dog collectors focus on buttons depicting their favoured breed (or breeds), or dogs from their breed's group. Some of the more rare breeds are difficult to find on buttons, so you just collect the dog buttons you enjoy.
It is not unusual for collectors to include other canines with their dog button collection. Wolves and foxes are common subjects, easily found on both antique and modern buttons. As always with any collectible, you should only buy the items you love.
WHERE TO FIND BUTTONS
 Antique dog button picturing asamoyed painted on ivory. |
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The internet is another good place to look. EBay is a wonderful source for dog buttons with a constantly updated set of listings for the sale of antique, vintage and modern dog buttons. This is an ideal resource which you can return to at any time and always find fresh content.
If you do a general search of the internet for buttons, I recommend you type in antique buttons or sewing buttons . If you simply search for buttons you will end up with an overwhelming number of results for things like code to create buttons (to click) on web pages, or pin-back type buttons. There are lots of great button web sites out there, and you are sure to find some dogs!
 Modern dog button, a howling husky, made of bone. |
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DISPLAYING BUTTONS
Once you have a number of buttons you may wish to display them. This is easily achieved by mounting the buttons on matte board, then framing them and hanging them on a wall.
An awl works well to make a hole in the matte board. Once you have your hole, you can usually pop the shank of the button through which allows the button itself to lay flat against the front of the board. To keep the button in place, I recommend using telephone cable wire cut into approximately two-inch pieces, which is then threaded through the shank of the button and wound against the back of the board. Use a shadow-box type of frame to give plenty of head room for any bulky buttons.
 Antique dog button of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, made of mosaic. |
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Button Clubs
Naturally, button collectors have formed clubs. Another great way to find dog buttons is to attend button club meetings or button shows. There you will find dealers selling buttons of all types, often with a large selection of beautiful dog buttons.
Below are three national clubs that I am aware of, though I am sure there are others. These clubs welcome members from all countries, and often have published material for their members. In the United States (and likely other countries as well), there are many local clubs. If button collecting interests you, please contact one of these organizations even if it is only to find local residents who also collect, or to find a contact to buy some dog buttons.
Button collectors are some of the nicest people you will ever meet.
United States
National Button Society
Miss Lois Pool, Secretary
2733 Juno Place
Akron, OH 44333-4137
USA
Great Britain
The British Button Society
http://www.britishbuttonsociety.org/
Rex Butler
12 Middlefield
Gnosall
Stafford ST20 0LS
GREAT BRITAIN
rexbbs@tailend.fsnet.co.uk
Australia
The Button Collector Society of Australia
PO BOX 565
Magil SA 5072
AUSTRALIA
References and Recommended Reading
These books may be difficult to find, as they are out of print, but they are great references. Check your local library for a copy, or try internet sources. The National Button Bulletin issue can be purchased through the National Button Society, if there are any copies still available. It has a nice article with dog buttons featured.
Books about collecting buttons can be found here.
The Big Book of Buttons
By Elizabeth Hughes and Marion Lester
New Leaf Publishers, Maine, US
2nd Printing, © 1993
Pages 294-309 and 652-670
Buttons: A Guide for Collectors
By Gwen Squire
Published by Frederick Muller Ltd, London, England
© 1972
Plates 64-77
The National Button Bulletin
Vol. 60, No. 3, July 2001
Published by the National Button Society
Pages 140-155 and color plates i-viii
Buttons of the Canadian Militia: Army, Naval and Air Forces, 1900-1990
By Eric Smylie
Vanwell Publishing Limited, Ontario, Canada
© 1995
Page 70
© 2005 by Diana L. Hefti
Buttons pictured for this article owned by Barbara Johnson, Judy Schwenk, and the author. The author (and readers!) wish to thank both Barbara and Judy for kindly allowing me to share some of their beautiful buttons with the rest of the world.