Object number
63/199/1-2
Description
hand made Dorset buttons from Lytchett Minster, Dorset
Physical description
2 cards of variety of buttons: wire; coloured linen thread; good condition
Label Text
<DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>3. <B>Handmade buttons from Lytchett Minster, Dorset</B><P>Buttoning or making buttons was not essentially a rural industry, but many young girls from farm workers' families used to make buttons in the Dorset area in the nineteenth century. The Mission ceased making buttons in 1915.<P>63/199</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV><DIV STYLE="text-align:Justify;font-family:Georgia;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16;color:#000000;"><P><SPAN><SPAN>6. <B>Handmade buttons from Lytchett Minster, Dorset</B><P>Buttoning or making buttons was not essentially a rural industry, but many young girls from farm workers' families used to make buttons in the Dorset area in the nineteenth century. The Button Cottage industry was established in Dorset, by the Case family who operated a system of "putting out", whereby raw materials were given to village workers by a merchant and the finished goods were returned to him directly or via an agent. The Case Family opened a depot in Lytchett in 1774. In the Early 19th century it was undertaken by the Lytchett Mission, a group of Sisters who offered a mixture of Christian teaching and hot soup for poor people and children. The buttons were made by filling in small wire rings, with delicately patterned thread. Buttons came in various sizes- mites birdseye, jams, waistcoats and outsizes- from about ? inch (6mm) upwards. Among the patterns the girls used were Old Dorset, Crosswheel, Honeycomb, Carolus, Yarrell, and High Tops as can be seen in the examples shown. Singleton buttons sold for 1d (1/2p) and Birdseye for a farthing. Buttoning was carried out indoors and was not a healthy occupation in the cramped and unpleasant conditions of the cottages. In the Report on the Employment of Women and Children in Agriculture, 1843 Mary Cox, a woman from Blandford in Dorset, said "I used to make buttons before I went out to work in the fields. I was much better in health when working out of doors than when buttoning. Buttoners are not so healthy as those who stir about at work." The Mission ceased making buttons in 1915.<P>63/199</SPAN></SPAN></P></DIV>
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – ‘1) 5 various sized buttons sewn to price lice – Agent for J. S. Salmon & Son’s. // B&E Case // Wine Button Manufacturers. // 2) 2 Green // 2 Orange // sewn to card – Lytchett Minster Hand-made buttons. // 3) 6 Blue sewn to card. Orange spare thread. // 4) 1 Blue sewn to card. // (5) 3 white and one blue sewn to card. // 6) 5 cream silk sewn to card. // 7) 6 cream silk sewn to card.’
Production place
Lytchett Minster
Production date
1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31
Production period
Nineteenth century
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
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