Many buttons in the Art Nouveau era have the same elegant designs which feature in other Art Nouveau items. Naturalistic designs such as flowers and ladies can be found. Values can vary greatly and although those made in precious metal, such as gold and silver, can command high prices, lower grade metal ones can also fetch high prices if the design is desirable and rare, such as in the brass angel button below.
Below are some examples and price guides to Art Nouveau buttons including a set of gold and green pliqué-a-jour enamel dress set and a brass button with a large winged angel.
Art Nouveau Gold, Green Plique-à-Jour Enamel and Diamond Dress Set Including pair of cufflinks and four buttons, the dress set composed of a gold floral motif, applied with a green plique-a-jour enamel background, accented by 8 small old-mine cut diamonds, circa 1900, approximately 22.5 dwts.
Sold for $3,125 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2013
An extra large brass button with a large winged Angel. This exquisite button in the Art Nouveau style is truly stunning
Sold for $325 at Lion and Unicorn in 2020
Enamelled Art Nouveau buttons made in Birmingham
Six buttons; enamelled sterling silver, each button is a four-leaf clover shape; deep blue enamel graduating to green in the middle; each leaf out lined in silver. The buttons are to be attatched with round toggles – brass, with silver ends. These buttons are classic Art Nouveau in style. Made in Birmingham 1909 by “J.F” or “J.I”. In round brown leather box, velvet & satin lined.
Reference: Museum of Applied Art and Sciences
Alice in Wonderland’s Buttons Sterling Silver. Two buttons worn by Alice Liddell (Alice Liddell was the person on who Lewis Carroll based his character Alice, in Alice in Wonderland.)
Each 25mm. (diameter), a pair of art nouveau silver buttons by Nathan & Hayes , 1896 featuring a cherub, later commemorative fitted presentation box, box slightly worn
The presentation box states “Two silver buttons worn from childhood up to the date of her death by ‘Alice in Wonderland’ née Alice Pleasance Liddell, daughter of Canon Liddell afterwards Mrs Hargreaves Born 1852 Died 1934.”
Sold for 2,500 GBP at Sotheby’s in 2015
LIBERTY & CO ., ATTRIBUTED TO WILLIAM HASELER Six ‘Cymric ‘ buttons, 1901-2 Silver. Each 2cm diameter Stamped CYMRIC with L&Co mark and Birmingham hallmarks.
Sold for £ 127 inc. premium at Bonham’s in
AN ART NOUVEAU PLIQUE-A-JOUR ENAMEL DRESS SET Each oval link of floral design on a green pliqué-a-jour enamel ground, with three circular buttons en suite, circa 1900, with French assay mark for gold, in red leather fitted case
Sold for GBP 2,988 at Christie’s in 2002
