Vintage 1930s Art Deco Oversized 45mm Laminated Striped Plastic Coat Button For Sale

Vintage 1930s Art Deco Oversized 45 mm Laminated Striped Plastic Coat ButtonThis substantial antique two-hole coat button features a bold, graphic design and an attractive historical patina. According to the ruler, it measures approximately 45 mm in diameter, or roughly 1¾ inches, and has a thick, robust profile. The front is shaped as a deep, saucer-like bowl that descends into a recessed central well. The reverse presents a distinctive hand-finished appearance, including a carved thread channel. The button displays a clean sequence of alternating black and amber-brown parallel stripes. It remains in excellent antique condition, with light surface scuffing consistent with age and no missing pieces or significant structural cracks.This striking fastener is an excellent example of the bold, geometric Art Deco design movement that influenced global fashion during the 1930s. Before modern mass-production techniques became widespread, high-quality outerwear required large, durable fasteners that could secure thick wool coats and dramatic capes. Manufacturers relied extensively on early synthetic materials, such as laminated Bakelite and Galalith, cutting blocks of layered, colored plastic to create sharply defined, parallel stripes. These oversized statement buttons were meant to serve as visual focal points, adding a sophisticated, architectural element to a garment's overall silhouette.The reverse of this button also preserves an interesting detail from its production history. In the third image, a slightly asymmetrical, hand-carved depression crosses the two sewing holes on the dark reverse side. This feature is not a factory defect but rather an artisan carving technique associated with the early plastic era. To ensure the heavy thread would sit flush and not rub against the garment fabric, a worker hand-routed this small channel after the button blank was molded. This carefully executed detail offers modern collectors a tangible indication of early twentieth-century tailoring craftsmanship, concealed in an area that would not have been visible during ordinary use.