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Home , Scrimshaw, Spaniel (horse), Talbot (dog), Toy dog

THIS ARTICLE IS COPYRIGHTED BY THE AUTHOR. CONTACT THE AUTHOR REGARDING REPUBLISHING USE. THIS ARTICLE IS POSTED BY WRBA WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR. WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2 Page 15 Page 16 WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2 WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2 Page 17 Page 18 WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2

These pulled their master’s carts subject on . In fact, dogs were one of the most popular or sleds, protected their estates or subjects featured on buttons during the 19th Century. Fortunately, property, and rescued those lost in the modern makers are also fond of man’s (and women’s) best snow or water. Herding breeds are the friend, and continue to include dogs on buttons today. dogs that took care of their master’s Many different breeds of dogs have been animals. Breeds like border , shown on buttons. Some breeds are readily Australian shepherds, German identified, while others are a guess at best. shepherds and collies all tended flocks Some of the difficulty in identifying the of sheep or herds of for their breeds of dogs is caused in the changes of owners. Some dogs like Kuvasz are the breed’s appearance over the years, and included in the herding group, though in other cases, the artist or button maker their job is to live with the flock of sheep and protect them from used a lot of artistic license in portraying the predators. hunted vermin. Breeds like Scottish , . Sometimes the doggy subject must West Highland white terrier, , and are have been a mixed breed or a breed all game little dogs that were used to keep rat (or other vermin) unfamiliar to us today. Modern button makers feature dog breeds populations under control on farms, boats, and docks. With only a only seen in recent years, and even include animated characters like few exceptions, the majority of terrier breeds were developed in the from the 101 Dalmatians movie. Great Britain. (Exceptions include the schnauzers [Germany] and the Australian terrier [].) Antique Buttons Toy dogs include all the very tiny Some breeds of dogs were very breeds. These dogs main “job” is to popular on antique buttons. Fanciers sit on our laps and look cute. Many who own “antique” breeds, or those of these early lap dogs were also that were popular during the 1800’s, used as “flea catchers” – fleas prefer have the most to choose from. animals to humans, so given a choice Sporting (or gun) dogs are easily between the court lady or her lap found. There are numerous buttons dog, the fleas would naturally showing , and gravitate to the dog! Dogs like . Many of the old buttons Chihuahuas, Papillions, Yorkies, were made of various types of metal. Maltese and fall into the That means it is pretty much breeds. The last category of dog impossible to determine if that breeds is the Non-Sporting group. These dogs are all very different in the is an Irish setter, English from one another. Dogs are put into this group if they don’t fit into setter or . The same one of the other categories (like our “unlisted” buttons!!) , goes for spaniels. Many of the buttons Chows, Dalmatians, and Keeshonden fall into this group. While show a -type head or body some of these dogs originally had jobs – like Dalmatians ran with shape, but without color it is hard to coaches, and poodles were hunters and retrievers, these dogs in say for sure which spaniel was general no longer perform these jobs, so were grouped into the non- portrayed. sporting category. are also seen quite often on As a dog fancier, and a button collector, collecting buttons with older buttons. Probably the most dogs on them was a natural for me. Dogs have long been a favorite hounds seen are members of WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2 Page 19 Page 20 WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2 WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2 Page 21 Page 22 WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2 the family. Without a point of reference, it is often hard terriers were extremely popular subjects – to tell whether the dog shown is a greyhound, or Italian especially Scotties, due to US President greyhound. Greyhound heads are very common and often very Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Scottie Fala. beautiful buttons with decorations of cut steels. and You can find these little guys in celluloid, coonhound-type dogs are also commonly found on antique buttons. Bakelite, Burwood (pressed wood), metal, Terriers are also plentiful on glass and every other imaginable antique buttons. Fox terriers, substance and design. The Danforth Airedales, Scottish terriers, West Company has issued a set of adorable Highland white terriers, bull terriers puppies in different poses. There are and Yorkshire terriers are all beautiful plastic buttons currently being made, with scrimshaw-like commonly found. Many more buttons carvings of many different breeds. Lovely hand-painted buttons are have dogs easily identifiable as being imported from Russia, showing detailed breed portraits. terriers, though it is harder to decide Studio artists have worked to create dogs from glass, enamel, just which breed they represent. One , metal, Mache and even shrink-art plastic. beautiful button that is identified in One of the most interesting things the Big Book of Buttons as a Scottie, isn’t (at least in my opinion). It about dogs on buttons is the variety of is definitely a terrier, but doesn’t have the correct head for a settings they are shown in. . Sometimes just the dog’s head or Working and herding dogs are also body is shown, with no other found, though they are not as common background. Other buttons show as the dogs mentioned above. St. entire scenes. Some buttons show Bernards tend to look very spaniel-like dogs involved in everyday settings – on the old buttons, but usually have like hunting dogs in the field pointing the cask around their necks. or retrieving game. Some are Newfoundlands can also be found on a humorous like the one showing the number of buttons. Collies, -type little boy and dog together in the dog house, or the dog chasing the Arctic dogs, boxers, plus Great Danes birds away from his food dish. Circus dogs jump through hoops. and other -type dogs can also be Other dogs carry letters to mail. One charming button shows a little found. Non-sporting and toy dogs like girl hugging a Newfoundland in front of a gate and wall. Some show poodles, , pugs and Boston terriers are all fairly common. tense scenes like the mother dog and her puppies climbing onto the Cavalier King Charles spaniels were popular with the British royalty roof of their dog house to escape a flood. so are seen surprisingly often in antique buttons and are usually Other Types of Buttons identifiable. There are a few gorgeous antique buttons with different Most of the buttons pictured for this dog breeds hand-painted on , then mounted under glass with a article are considered “dressmakers” gilt frame, including the lovely Samoyed shown in one of the printed buttons, meaning they were used on pictures. men’s and women’s regular clothing. Modern Buttons However, dogs were also pictured on Modern buttons, or those made after 1918, are made both by several other types of buttons and commercial manufacturers and individual studio artists. Dog related collectibles. subjects are just as popular as ever. During the 1930’s and 1940’s, Both gun dogs and hounds often WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2 Page 23 Page 24 WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2 WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2 Page 25 Page 26 WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2 appear on sporting buttons. Sporting buttons were worn on the as well as civilian uniforms like police, coats of hunters and other sportsmen, and usually issued in sets. fire, banks, transportation, and many Sets generally included a dog (or dogs), a horse, birds, , fox and others. So far, I have found a dog on only other wildlife. Some sets included big game animals like giraffes, ONE military uniform button, but I am elephants and tigers, or even fishermen. One lovely 18th century sure there must be others! The Yukon English sporting button set included twenty-eight hounds, with each Regiment from Canada was in service dog hand engraved on the silver button, along with his or her name. from 1962-1968, and features a lovely Some collectors try to compile complete sporting sets, while others Husky on the front (and a under his specialize in only one subject (like the dogs). feet). The U.S. bus company Greyhound A related category is hunt buttons. Lines features a running greyhound on These buttons were presented to and their older buttons. If anyone knows of other uniform buttons with worn by members of local hunt clubs. dogs as part of the design, I would love to know about them. While most hunt buttons feature only Bridle Rosettes, or Bridle buttons, were used on horse bridles as the hunt’s initials, some also show a decoration. They are usually fairly large, often with the design under fox, rabbit, badger or other prey. Hunt domed glass, and have a heavy rectangular shank on the back for buttons occasionally show a , the leather straps to go through. Some have been remade over the though these are harder to find. Even years by removing the shank and replacing it with a pin mechanism though these don’t always feature a so they can be worn as a brooch. Dogs were a popular design on dog on the button, they are still often these neat items, along with horse heads, flowers, flags and initials. coveted by dog button collectors, as the Collecting hounds are so integral to the hunt. Collectors have lots of choices on how to put their collection Livery buttons were worn by the together, depending on their main focus. Button collectors usually servants of families. Each try to have examples in their collection showing a wide variety of noble family had their own coat of breeds, made out of as many arms, which were then placed on the different types of materials as livery or “uniform” of the servants, possible. They will also look for both including the buttons. These buttons old and modern buttons, showing often featured the family . the dogs performing as many Livery buttons are very distinctive in different activities as they can. Dog style, and all showing a crest will collectors will most likely want to have either a , chapeau (hat) or focus on buttons showing their torse (what looks like a twisted rope) breed (or breeds), or at least dogs beneath the design of the crest. A from their breed’s group. Some great many families had dogs as their crest. Talbot hounds, breeds are nearly impossible to find , and are all fairly common. They can be found on buttons, so those of us with hard- sitting, standing, and lying, or sometimes just the head is shown. to-find breeds just collect the dog buttons we enjoy. Some collectors Other canines like foxes and wolves were also used. Some livery also include other canines in with their dogs. Wolves and foxes are buttons have been darkened for use when the family was officially in also common subjects, and can be found on both antique and mourning. modern buttons. As always with any collectible, you should only buy Uniform buttons were used on all branches of military uniforms, the items you love. WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2 Page 27 Page 28 WRBA Territorial News, Volume 8, Issue 2

References and Recommended Reading These books may be difficult to find, as they are out of print. Check your local library for a copy, or try sources like ABE Books to find used copies for yourself. 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. 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 Muller Ltd, London, © 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 A short note about breed identifications. I have identified breeds on the button pictures to the best of my ability. A lot of them are rather open to interpretation. I have been involved with training and showing dogs since the early 1970’s. I started with an Irish setter and , and currently train and show my Australian shepherds in agility, and Rally obedience. You can meet my dogs at www.gleneyaussies.net. I have been helping train other people and their dogs since 1984. A slightly different version of this article appeared previously in the July 2003 issue of Canine Collectibles Courier, and has also appeared on the DogCo.com website. This version was given as a 



 TheWesternRegionalButtonAssociationispleasedtoshareour educationalarticleswiththebuttoncollectingcommunity.This articleappearedintheMay2010WRBAnewsletter,Territorial News.Enjoy!AndconsiderjoiningWRBA!Gotowww.WRBA.us