Vintage Buttons in Bulk

Do you love vintage buttons and want to buy bakelite, mother of pearl, celluloid, glass, or assorted vintage buttons in bulk? Don't feel like going to estate auctions? Have had no luck finding vintage buttons at yard sales? Can't afford to pay high retail vintage buttons prices at antiques stores? No worries, there is an easier way to shop for vintage buttons and get excellent deals on your craft supplies. This article is all about the different types of vintage buttons used for arts and crafts and the best place to buy vintage buttons in bulk at a fraction of retail pricing.

All Images: ©Copyright 2013 KatieColette. All rights reserved.

Mother of Pearl and Bakelite vintage buttons

Vintage Mother of pearl buttons and bakelite vintage buttons are my personal favorites. I love the natural feel of the pearl shell buttons. They are perfect for jewelry making and craft decorating. As for bakelite buttons, they are so unique! The transparent look and the great variety of shapes make bakelite buttons a true find for artists and crafters. Bakelite buttons were made out of synthetic resin formulated by L.H.Baekeland. How do you know if the buttons are really bakelite? Bakelite buttons have a distinctive smell (formaldehyde). You may also use 409 Cleaner to test bakelite buttons - deep Q-tip in clear 409 and rub it on the back of a button - bakelite buttons will turn Q-tip yellow. Another way to test bakelite buttons is to use Simichrome polish - pink polish will turn yellow if you rub it on a bakelite button.

I love buying vintage buttons in bulk. It's like searching for treasures - you never know what you will find in the assortments. Some buttons assortments sold on Ebay have been picked through. Ebay sellers purchase big estate lots, pick out the most valuable buttons (some may sell for hundreds of dollars per button), and resell the rest on Ebay. Other Ebay sellers don't know much about the value of the buttons they sell, but still make money by buying big estate vintage buttons lots and reselling smaller vintage buttons lots with a markup. Finally, you will find some sellers that never worked with vintage buttons but know they have some value. They sell the buttons inherited from a Grandma or a relative, or maybe buttons they found at a garage sale. I usually try to avoid the assortments that obviously have been picked through or Ebay listings that have blurry photos. Also, I don't buy from sellers that sell by the pound with generic photos that don't show the actual buttons you are buying, and the word "unsearched" is usually a red flag for me - it's usually the complete opposite. Also, be sure to read item description carefully to avoid buying a mix of vintage and modern buttons, unless that's what you are after. Check out some of the auctions below. I really like the brightly colored assortments, especially when a seller takes time to sort the buttons out by color.

New buttons with vintage look.

Interested in learning more about different types of vintage buttons and their value? Or may be you are looking for art and craft projects to make using vintage buttons?

I absolutely adore vintage glass buttons, especially Czech glass buttons - so many beautiful designs, vibrant colors, and they come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. A sure way to spark your creativity! Did you know that you can buy Czech buttons online and have them shipped to you from Czech Republic? Ebay is the place to go :)