This past weekend I was visiting a friend in her small town and we went into a vintage store that specialized in furniture. As we wandered the store I could not help but notice all the fantastic drawer pulls on the dressers (seen below).
This trip then inspired me to put together a roundup of vintage drawer pulls from the 1920’s-1950’s for my readers to enjoy as well.
Let the browsing begin!
Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy , eBay, are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
NOTE: If you click on any of the items featured below and they are not available, don’t fret! Hit the search button and see what else is on the websites. There are 1000’s and 1000’s of items being listed daily.
Vintage Drawer Pulls from the 1920s-1950s
Set of 7 1920s metal drawer pulls with bakelite amber inset (avail as of March 23rd, 2022 HERE).
Source: Etsy
Wooden Acorn Pulls for the win (circa 1920’s)! I wonder what the drawer that this was attached to, looked like?
Art Deco 1920s Bakelite pull-so so pretty!
Another set of Art Deco Pulls. I love the colour.
Waterfall/Shell drawer pull, 1920s/ 1930s.
Black Bakelite Drawer Pulls 1930’s.
Vintage 1930’s-40s’ Art Deco multi color and chrome drawer or door handles.
Another Art Deco Handle (truly an awesome era for this fixture).
Vintage 1940’s Jadeite Green Cabinet Drawer Pulls.
Brass-1950’s. Now this is a cool design!
1950’s gold tone cast metal drawer pull handles.
1950’s Bakelite, Art Deco style drawer handles. Want!
Question time: What was your favorite from above? Are you a collector of vintage drawer pulls? Share in the comment section below.
FURTHER READING:Check out my archive of ‘Vintage Home Decor’ PostsHERE.
Have you ever stumbled upon a treasure trove of vintage buttons from the 1920s-1950s? These tiny pieces of decorative art may seem insignificant, but they hold a fascinating history within their intricate designs. From delicate floral patterns to bold geometric shapes, these buttons were more than just functional fasteners – they were a reflection of the time period they were created in.
In this article, we’ll dive into the world of vintage buttons and explore their different styles thru the 1920s-1950s.
So buckle up and get ready to discover the charm and nostalgia of these tiny relics from the past.
Note: This post is inspired by a comment that Theresa from Vintage Style Files said on a past clothing blog post:
“They had some of the coolest buttons and buckles on clothing back then”
As I sat back and thought about her comment, I realized that she was completely right! So for today’s post I want to show off those little beauties of the clothing and accessories world.
Disclosure: Some of the links on my blog from Etsy are Affiliate Links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Note: If you click on an item and it is no longer available, don’t fret! The websites I have provided are updated daily with 1000’s of new & vintage items. Just do a quick search and see what you find.
Vintage Buttons-The Little Beauties of the Clothing World
To begin here is a fantastic article by Hobby Lark on “Vintage Button Guide-Ways to Identify Antique Buttons”. This article will get you up to date on the different types of buttons out there (Bakelite, Celluloid, Lucite, Metal etc.), how to identify them and how to clean them. An excellent read for all vintage clothing enthusiasts out there.
Now examples of Vintage Buttons:
Vintage Celluloid Buttons. Celluloid buttons became very popular during the late 1900’s through the 1920’s. They can be opaque, transparent or both and they come in all shapes, sizes and colors (Source).
Set of twelve Art Deco matching vintage buttons in a striking art deco design. The buttons are styled from plastic with a grooved design and a scalloped edge to the top.
Source: Etsy
Bright Green Celluloid Buttons. Very Art Deco looking.
Buttons don’t have to come in just the round shape, they can come in all shapes and sizes. Like these Celluloid ‘Ribbon’ buttons. What kind of outfit or accessory do you think they were used for?
Vintage Cornflower Blue art deco buttons from the 1940s-50s, made of an early plastic called casein.
Source: Etsy
Bakelite Buttons-not the first plastic buttons, but are some of the most sought after and highly collected. They come in all shapes and sizes and are heavier than Celluloid buttons (Source).
The below buttons are Vintage Black and Apple Juice Bakelite. Called apple juice because at one point the yellow was white and has gone yellow over time.
Cream Corn Fluted Vintage Bakelite buttons. These look like little works of art.
Lucite Buttons were most popular from the 1930’s on through the 1960’s. It’s a low density material but stronger than plastics that came before it. They can be clear or opaque and different colors, shapes and sizes and could also be carved (source).
Here is a beautiful example of 1940’s Lucite buttons, looking like miniature flower bouquets.
Vintage 1930s Blue Hand Painted Heart Hearts Buttons
Yooza look at these! Hands down my favorite buttons of this whole blog post. Lucite Cherry Candy Buttons. I can envision these beauties on a sweet 1940’s/50’s summer dress. Could you?
1940’s Bow Buttons-Cute as a….Button. Now I know what the reference to buttons means in that saying! Because at one point all the buttons were “cute”.
You could purchase these buttons for the packaging alone (it’s that cool) but you don’t have to because these ‘Teen Agers’ themed 1940’s plastic buttons are together and in mint condition.
1950’s and the Kitsch continues with these adorable Plastic Shoe Buttons.
I will now end this vintage button extravaganza with one more 1950’s kitschy plastic button, this time in the shapes of fruit. Carmen Miranda would of loved these.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed seeing what buttons looked like in various decades. I know I did!
Question Time:Do any of your vintage outfits have some outstanding buttons? Or maybe you own a collection of vintage buttons yourself. Please share!
I have also started an Etsy collection of vintage buttons for sale(updated monthly) that you can shop at right now!