15L Set of Five Black Victorian Rubber Ebonite Shank Buttons, 3/8"

This charming set of five genuine Victorian black ebonite shank buttons is a perfect example of mid-to-late 19th-century design. Each button features a classic dome-shaped or gently rounded profile with an integrated shank for easy attachment. The matte black finish and smooth, slightly domed surface are characteristic of practical buttons used on everyday or mourning garments during the Victorian era.

Ebonite, also known as vulcanite, was developed in the 1840s by vulcanizing natural rubber with sulfur to create a hard, durable, ebony-like material that could be molded, polished, and machined. By the 1850s, hard rubber buttons were widely produced as affordable alternatives to more expensive black materials such as jet, black glass, or horn. These buttons were especially popular during the Victorian period’s mourning customs, following Prince Albert’s death in 1861, when Queen Victoria’s decades-long wardrobe of black influenced fashion across Britain and beyond.

Lightweight, warm to the touch, and resistant to everyday wear, these buttons exemplify the practical elegance of Victorian design. Some age-related striations or surface variations may be present, typical of original ebonite items, adding to their authentic antique charm.

Victorian ebonite buttons were primarily produced in Britain or the United States, with British manufacturers influenced by Thomas Hancock’s innovations and American firms building on Charles Goodyear’s vulcanization patents. This set aligns perfectly with modest, functional examples from the 1860s–1890s and would make a wonderful addition to a collection, period garment restoration project, or creative craft use.

Each button measures approximately 15 lignes (about 9.5 mm or 3/8 inch).

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