Monday, January 23, 2012

Vintage Bohemian Czech Glass Buttons made into Jewelry



Sometimes great beauty can be found in a small simple household object, such as button. Some of the most beautiful buttons are Bohemian Czech glass buttons, which are made in Prague. A few factories still produce newer versions of these vintage beauties, using the same traditional molds, tools and methods that their ancestors did.   









Below is a glimpse at a small part of the tools and the process of making pressed glass buttons from molds. Some of the molds are well over 100 years old.



 Negatives used to create button molds



 Button hand press with mold



 Button hand presses



Glass rods are melted in an oven



The molten glass is then pressed into a button mold
Button process photos from Nirvana Beads


Pendant necklaces made from Bohemian Czech glass buttons by Dishfunctional Designs



Sunflower motif moonglow


Green paisley moonglow



Dark blue iridescent dragonfly 




Art Nouveau design in soft blue



White rose button




Scotty dog with hand-painted details




Hand-painted frog button




Cat button with hand-painted details




Dragonfly button with swirled glass




Art Nouveau flower motif button, pink moonglow 



Vaseline glass aka Uranium glass, shamrock motif button