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Item Information• Material: Early to mid-century Catalin/Bakelite phenolic resin plastic
• Size: Approximately 22 mm (7/8 inch) corner to corner
• Quantity: Six matching buttons
• Design: Art Deco geometric style, with a hexagonal base rising to a sharp, faceted pyramid dome
• Attachment: Molded plastic loop shanks
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition. The dark chocolate-brown surfaces have crisp facets, with no chips or flattened pyramid tips. The shanks are intact and structurally sound.Historical BackgroundThese geometric buttons reflect the bold architectural shapes popular during the Art Deco era of the 1930s and 1940s. Made from early phenolic resins such as Bakelite and Catalin, these dense plastics could be cast in rich colors and formed into shapes difficult to achieve with natural materials.
Avant-garde designer Elsa Schiaparelli helped popularize sculptural buttons, commissioning plastic manufacturers to create distinctive designs for her haute couture collections. Her influence extended to commercial fashions, where geometric styles such as pyramid-topped hexagons added bold accents to winter coats, capes, and heavy knit cardigans during the Depression and wartime years.Giftable packaging
