Page 33 - March 2025

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utton
March 2025 The NaTioNal ButtonBulleTiN 31
To an NBS member the word “gilt” refers to
metal completely overlaid with gold leaf or
plated with a thin layer of gold (Blue Book
(2023), p. 77). Those unfamiliar with buttons
may believe it refers to “guilt” (when one has
committed a crime or offense). Perhaps our
only guilt is overspending our button budget!

But within our button lexicon, we have homo-
graphs that can be equally misinterpreted. And
some button conversations can lead to confu-
A button collector’s gilt is much sion even amongst the more experienced. If I
different than the overspending on
buttons kind of guilt . A Sporting said “screen button” there are several different
button’s back mark includes the examples that I might be referring to. A screen
words “Imperial Gilt” . back can be found on the back of a black glass
button. This rare, Division I button has a wire
shank held in place by a fine screen embedded
in the glass (Lindsay 2015, p. 16).

A “screen background” is also a recognized
term. Found in metal, Class 10-11 Metal Back-
grounds, the screen might command a large
section of the button or just a peek behind the
foreground. According to the Blue Book glossa-
ry (page 80) a “screen-back” is a metal button
with screen as the base of the button. Due to
the screen’s openwork, it fits under Class 10-
A screen back black glass 13.4. So, there are three different button types
button with the screen with just one word. Hearing this conversation
embedded into the glass . on terminology, a non-button collector is likely
thinking of a window screen to keep out the
summertime mosquitoes.

A “screen background”
may be just a peek of the screen
or a larger background area . A “screen back” is a metal button with
the screen as the base of the button