13L White Diminutive Dorset Buttons

1800s. Set of six diminutive white Dorset buttons. Measure approximately 13 lignes, 8.2 mm., or 5/16 inches.

These feminine, lacelike craft-made buttons originated from Dorset, England. Made by hand in cottages by women who specialized in handmade lace trims during the period. These buttons date to approximately 1810, just before the introduction of machine-made buttons stamped out metal overtook the button industry. Please note the top two are a slightly different shade of white than the bottom four.