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.
Czech glass buttons made into beautiful jewelry pendants by Dishfunctional Designs
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 creating the hive)
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