Brown Plastic Button Value Guide

- Period
- 1940-1960
- Origin
- Unknown
- Materials
- Plastic
- Category
- Plastic button
This mid-century brown plastic button represents the shift toward durable, mass-produced fasteners during the 1940s to 1960s. Its distinctive carved, ridged edge demonstrates how plastic was used to mimic more expensive natural materials like wood or shell for everyday fashion.
What Is Brown Plastic Button Worth?
The typical price range for Brown Plastic Button is $2 - $2 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:
- The presence of the decorative ridged edge adds more collector interest than a plain flat plastic button.
- Physical condition is vital, as scratches or chips in the plastic significantly reduce the $2 market value.
- The specific era of 1940-1960 makes it a desirable replacement piece for authentic vintage garment restoration.
- The round shape and standard two-hole configuration affect its utility for sewers looking for period-accurate fasteners.
How to Identify Brown Plastic Button?
- Examine the edge for the specific carved, ridged pattern characteristic of mid-20th-century decorative molding.
- Verify the two-hole central attachment style, which was standard for functional utility buttons of this era.
- Check the material density and weight to confirm it is a vintage plastic rather than modern lightweight resin.
- Look for a uniform brown color throughout the plastic, indicating a stable dye process used between 1940 and 1960.
History of Brown Plastic Button
Buttons have been used for millennia, originally as ornaments or seals rather than fasteners. It wasn't until the 13th century in Germany that functional buttonholes appeared, revolutionizing fashion. Plastic buttons became widely popular in the early to mid-20th century, offering durability and versatility in design and color, often mimicking more expensive materials like wood or shell.
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