8L, 1850s White Civil War Era Fabric Ball Pad Back Dimi Buttons, 3/16"

This set features twelve antique white fabric-covered buttons mounted on their original light blue card with black dividing lines, showcasing a charming piece of 19th-century sewing history.

Each diminutive button is spherical, with a textured fabric surface that appears to be linen or cotton, measuring approximately 5 mm (3/16") in diameter—exceptionally small and delicate.

The light blue card with black grid lines helps date these buttons to the mid-to-late 19th century, particularly the Victorian era (roughly 1840s–1880s). This simple grid-patterned card style, often in pale colors with stark black outlines, was commonly used by manufacturers and haberdashers to display small fabric-covered or utilitarian buttons. Earlier 19th-century cards (pre-1840s) tended to be plainer or used different colors, while later Victorian and post-1900 cards frequently featured more elaborate printing, logos, or decorative borders.

The pad-back construction, featuring a cloth shank (also called a canvas or pad back), aligns with this period. This flexible shank style was patented in 1825 by Benjamin Saunders, an English manufacturer, as an improvement over rigid iron shanks for easier sewing and greater durability. By the 1830s–1840s, fabric-covered buttons with this shank were widely produced mechanically in England and the United States, though many were still hand-finished to match garments.

These buttons are approximately 175 years old, showing minor age-related wear on the card edges and slight discoloration on a few buttons, yet they retain their original charm and functionality. Their tiny spherical shape and linen-like fabric covering reflect mid-Victorian preferences for delicate, coordinated buttons on fine clothing, children’s wear, doll clothes, or undergarments.

Well-preserved and modest, these white fabric-covered buttons on their original card offer an accessible entry into 19th-century button collecting. Their historical appeal lies in the everyday craftsmanship of the era, making them a delightful addition for enthusiasts of authentic Civil War sewing artifacts.

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