Buttons: history of occurrence, types, application. Golden button. clothing details

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

When going to work, study or walk every day, we do not attach much importance to the buttons on our clothes. They have become such a familiar and everyday accessory that sometimes you just don’t notice them and fasten them by inertia. But the history of the button is very interesting and rich. Let's take a closer look at this type of clasp.

Button semantics

In Russian, this word corresponds to "scarecrow", "pugach", "scare". This is due to the fact that the Slavs attributed a protective and intimidating function to the button. Also, according to Dahl's dictionary, the name "scarecrow" was preserved for a long time in Russian dialects. This was the name of a special accessory-bell, which was attached to the collar or hung on a chain. From the ancient Sanskrit “pug” is a “whip”, and “vica” is a “rod”, “rod”, “whip”. And it turned out that the button was called a puffy whip, a whip or a pug rod. That is, there was also a deterrent function.

From the English language "button" (button) means "bud" - an unopened flower. This suggests that in Western Europe small details of clothingperformed not a fastening, but an aesthetic, decorative function. According to the Romanesque interpretation, there were consonant words with an accent on the first syllable: "baton", "boton" and "botao". They meant "pierce", "pierce", "squeeze".

"Button" in Arabic is a homonym for rose and sounds like "zarra". But from the ancient Persian translation, this word means "gold". It can be assumed that in ancient times the buttons in those places symbolized the sun, and therefore they were cast exclusively from precious metals.

Varieties

Due to the fact that the button has a very rich history, this element of clothing today is presented in all sorts of colors and shapes. The most common are flat round options. But you can also find convex, spherical, oval, cylindrical, triangular, square, animal-shaped and other buttons. Each shape brings its own style, so designers and needlewomen carefully choose buttons to match the fabric and style of the garment.

Elements with two or four through holes are in great demand, less often with three. For example, such mother-of-pearl buttons have become a distinctive feature of Van Laak men's shirts. Fasteners with one hole are through (similar to flat beads) or have an eye for which they are fastened with threads. A variety for jeans is not sewn on, but installed on clothes. This button has a solid stud and a floating cap. There is also a Canadian. It has holes and two oblong slots, throughwhich is attached with tape.

Besides tight, buttons vary in size. Large and thick fasteners are sewn onto thick fabrics and outerwear. And thin and small mother-of-pearl buttons are ideal for lightweight materials.

Clasp functions

This piece of clothing has changed throughout history. And as a result, it turned out that the buttons differ in purpose. What functions can they perform?

1. Utilitarian. That is, this is the initial role of the fastener, fastening the details of clothing.

2. Information. By a button, you can determine the position or status.

3. Magic. All kinds of talismans and amulets were made from buttons.

4. Decorative. Sometimes clasps are sewn on as decoration.

Let's take a closer look at the history of the button and what modifications it has undergone over time.

Ancient clasps

Initially, primitive people did not use buttons, but tied the ends of their clothes in knots or threaded one piece into the hole of another. Later, they already guessed to use belts, lacing and pins made of bones, sticks, pebbles, plant thorns and other improvised materials. In ancient Egypt, the method of fastening with buckles was already popular. The oldest finds date back to 2800 BC.

Later (around 2000 BC) people began to make shapeless metal and clay balls with holes. But some specimens were so neat and accurate that they could beattach with thread. Buttons made of shells were also found, which were rather used as decorations. Remarkably, clasps made from shellfish are still popular today.

According to archaeologists, finds made of stone, which date back to 1500 BC, can be classified as functional. That is, people used them for fastening, and not as decorations like shells. Another available material is wood. But items of clothing from it were not found. One can only assume that wooden buttons were also common. But due to their properties, they simply rotted and did not survive to our time.

Buttons as amulets

Today, few people remember that the elements of clothing were important magical amulets that frightened off hostile forces. Among them are pebbles, beads, embroideries, bells and pseudo fasteners, which were attached to a chain or collar. For example, a shirt with a large red button was found in Novgorod. She did not fasten anything and certainly did not serve as an ornament. The red color of the Slavs scared away evil spirits and was popular. Therefore, it can be argued that the button in this case was a talisman. Among the Chinese, magical motifs include all kinds of fastener knots, of which the most famous is the “monkey fist.”

Also, a pellet, a round stone or a piece of tin was placed in hollow metal or wooden buttons, which, when moving, made a muffled sound, like a bell. They were placed on a chain or sewn to clothes as amulets. Moreas talismans, flat rounds with four holes were used. Here the method of sewing on such a button was of great importance. For example, to attract we alth, the stitches should be made in the form of the letter Z, to preserve the heroic he alth and beauty - in the form of a cross.

Innovative ideas

In the 16th century, Venetian craftsmen began to make buttons using the latest technology. The meaning was that a hot glass form was quickly lowered into ice water and taken out. Due to the temperature difference, numerous cracks formed on the product. They were again filled with glass, and as a result of the refraction of light, the button shimmered with bright colors, like a precious stone. It was a real revolution!

A century later, Florentine craftsmen came up with a mosaic decoration for a button. History has never seen such a breakthrough in clasp design before. Masters on a silver or gold frame laid out tiny pieces of glass or stone in a chaotic manner, but it turned out very beautifully. Later, multi-colored foil was placed under the glass top of the fastener. And already in the 18th century, enamel buttons with miniatures copied from the works of the artists Watteau and Boucher came into fashion. Since that time, the art of decorating a small piece of clothing has reached its peak.

Button as business card

In pre-Petrine Russia, you could learn a lot about a person from fasteners. The number of buttons, their shape, patterns or signs depicted on them spoke of position, status, proximity to power ormerit. For each type of clothing, the number of buttons was strictly defined. For example, 8, 11, 13-16 fasteners were sewn onto a fur coat, and 3, 8, 10-13, 19 fasteners were sewn onto a caftan. The material of the product also mattered. For example, the clothes of Ivan the Terrible were supposed to have a golden button. Moreover, on one caftan it was presented in the amount of 48 pieces, and on the other 68 such fasteners shone.

Military ranks could also be distinguished by the buttons. For officers they were silver or gold, and for soldiers they were bronze, copper, tin or brass. The guards and the generals on the clasps had coat of arms drawings, that is, with an eagle. And the regiments, which were led by representatives of the imperial family, wore buttons with the image of a crown. In the future, the iconic role continued to develop. A button could tell what profession a person belongs to: a military man, a government official, a scientist, and so on. Some emblems are still used today. This is a gold button with an anchor on naval uniforms and with oak branches on foresters.

Clutches in men's and women's suits

It is noteworthy that buttons have long been the privilege of men. Moreover, on their robes, this small detail was found only on the front side on the right. The fact is that men dressed themselves and it was more convenient to fasten in front.

Women were helped to dress up by maids. There were dresses that had both a corset and even a button-down skirt. It can be imagined that the dressing procedurecould take a long time. So that the servants did not spin before the eyes of the mistress all this time, all the fasteners on the dresses were placed at the back. And they were sewn on the left side. This was explained by the fact that it was more convenient for the servant to fasten it, which means that the hostess could be dressed faster.

Later, the girls began to dress themselves, but, surprisingly, the differences in the location of the fasteners have survived to this day. Please note that the buttons on the men's shirts are on the right, and on the women's - on the left.

Buttons as decorations

Later, fasteners in women's outfits began to perform not only a utilitarian function, but also a decorative one. That's when the "button boom" happened. The girls tried to decorate their whole dress with small circles. And since then all the fittings were metal, the poor fashionistas had to rub it to a shine for hours. This is how fabric-covered fasteners were born.

Then big and expensive buttons were popular. They were made of silver, gold, porcelain and decorated with precious stones. Such a dowry was inherited and changed from one dress to another. And no wonder, because the clothes themselves could cost four thousand, and buttons - eight.

Modern buttons

In the 19th century, hand-made fittings were no longer made, the whole process was mechanized. Therefore, the buttons fell in price and became available to the common people. And in the 20th century, plastic spread throughout the world. From its various types, it was possible to make anything and create any curly shape. AlsoAmong the girls, a button-down denim skirt has become popular. It was with her that special rivet fasteners came into fashion.

Today, buttons are often found as fasteners and as decoration on shirts, coats, hats, swimsuits and other clothes. Moreover, they began to be used as a material for creativity. They decorate ballet shoes, vases, belts, all kinds of crafts, they create floral compositions and even paintings.

Interesting facts

The French King Francis had the richest buttoned suit. More than 13.5 thousand pieces were sewn to it

A small button has become an obligatory attribute of the cuff of a men's shirt. It was sewn on to make it inconvenient for soldiers to wipe themselves with their sleeves

The buttons on the uniforms of the Napoleonic army turned out to be the most unreliable. They were made of aluminum and simply fell apart in the bitter cold

Louis XIV spent more than six million dollars on fasteners in his entire life. He loved them so much

In England, there has long been a tradition to collect the most beautiful buttons on a fishing line or thread. When there are 999 of them, the girl will find her other half

Finally

Unfortunately, history has not preserved the name of the person who invented the buttons. Although he, as the inventor of the wheel, definitely deserves a monument. Times are changing, and fasteners as clothing connectors are in the background. They are already being replaced by more convenient options: zippers and Velcro. Although in some cases this is not justified. After all, buttons are easier to replace if they come off orI just want to update my clothes.