Page 44 - September1951

3t4 NATIONAL BUTTON BULLI4TIN September, 195.t

BLACK GLASS CLASSIFICATION
GI.OSSABY AIVD EIXPIIIISAfION Of,' TER,MS
A classification of black glass must begin with an explanation of rilhat
is included in the field. X'irst, when is a button black. As Mrs. Fuoss and
Mrs. Jones pointed out so sensibly, blackness is best judged for our pur-
poses by ordinary light. All buttons that look black in daylight belong in
the group even though some of them v/ill throw a reddish or other-colored
shadow when held to an intense light.
If all glass buttons are to be dividecl into two major kinds, the black
ones and the clear or colored ones, we face the problem of where to place
parti-colored ones which combine black with color or clear, Obviously we
must have rules for placing the composites.
Often the color combination takes the form of body color and trim;
the body of the button is one color and the decoration is in contrast. In
such cases the button can best be classifled according to its body color. For
example, a black ball with colored overlay trim ought to be placed with
black glass even in cases where more color shows than black.
But in some types the color combinations are of quite another sort;
one portion of the body is clear or colored, another portion is black. Coro-
nets offer many examples of this kind. Paperweights give a considerable
number. Color radiated types are often dominated by the color so that a
black reflector looks more black than clear.
The classification as proposed takes a commonsense position on coronets
and allows them to be placed in either black or in clear and colored when
the two are joined in one button. Paperweights with black bases can also
be mounted by themselves in the black glass section or mixed with other
colors in the clear glass group. Color radiated types, have been construed
as "color trimmed" and as such have been placed in the Clear and Colored
section only, We need to know how collectors feel about these problems.
Is it desirable to have a class for paperweights which contain black glass?
Do we wish a class in black glass for color radiated. types where we can
make a mounting entirely of black radiants?
Black glass is frequently found combined with other materials. Do
such buttons belong with black glass or somewhere else? As proposed they
are placed with black glass with the single exception of combinations that
consist of metal frames or rims. At present all glass, both here and in the
clear or colored section, is unmounted. A sp€cial section is contemplated
for the rimmed types.
To make the fullest use of the black glass classification one may employ
combination numbers joined by plus-, minus- or equals- signs as ex-
plained under clear and colored glass.
Once again we solicit your comments.

(For Classificati<-rn older and set-up without illustrations see pp. 911_
313).
BACK TYPES DEFINED: Box-shank (1,2), key-shank (3), makers' marks
(5-7), pin-shank (8), rosette-shank (9), scissors-back (10,11) selfshank
(14,15), sew-thru (16-19) and swirl-l:ach (20), are deflned just as they
were under Clear and Colored Giass.
Metal-back tailor's: F lat or nearly flat sew-thru buttons intended for use of
men's wear; recognized by a wide metal plate (often marked) attached to
the back for strength. (4)