18L Set of Three 1880s–1910s Small Gray Shoe, Spats, Gaiter Glass Pin Shank Buttons, 1/2"

Soft smoke-gray in color with a gentle translucent glow, these petite antique glass buttons were made to blend seamlessly into Victorian and Edwardian dress while quietly doing their work. This matched set of three was intended for high-button boots, gloves, and spats, fastening securely with a buttonhook and adding a refined, understated finish to late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century footwear and accessories.

Each button measures approximately 11.2 mm (18 lignes, about 1/2 inch) and has a smooth flat face in a muted charcoal or smoke-gray tone. A small metallic pin or stud, likely steel or brass, sits at the center, providing subtle detail and added strength. The glass has the cool, solid feel of molded or pressed glass, with light surface wear, soft patina, and occasional hints of iridescence that reflect age and long use.

The reverse features a simple metal pin shank formed from wire with a looped end for sewing, a practical construction typical of utilitarian buttons of the period. These were working fasteners rather than decorative novelties, designed to withstand repeated fastening on boots and gloves.

Gray or smoke-colored glass was a favored neutral during the Victorian and Edwardian eras, offering quiet elegance and versatility. It echoed the appearance of jet or onyx at a more affordable price, making it ideal for everyday wear. The specific expertise in affordable, mass-produced colored and neutral glass buttons—including gray and smoke tones for footwear and accessories—points overwhelmingly to Bohemia as the place of manufacture. Bohemian factories were internationally renowned for producing durable molded glass buttons in a wide range of practical colors for export.

Dating to the late Victorian through Edwardian period, circa 1880s–1910s, this set represents an authentic example of Bohemian glass button production. Ideal for antique boot or glove restoration, period costuming, doll clothing, or for collectors who appreciate the quiet beauty of everyday fashion history, these buttons carry the charm of objects made to be used, worn, and relied upon.

Measure approximately 11.2 mm and rounded up to 18L, 18 lignes, 11.4 mm, or 1/2".

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