Antique Large Black Vulcanite Hard Rubber Button Geometric Incised, loop shank For Sale

Item Information• Material: Antique 19th-century vulcanite, also known as ebonite or Goodyear hard rubber.
• Size: Approximately 35 mm (1⅜ inches) in diameter.
• Quantity: One extra-large statement button.
• Design: Smooth, high-domed center with an incised rim featuring alternating chevron slashes and finely ridged geometric sections.
• Fastening: Sturdy metal loop shank securely embedded in the back.
• Condition: Excellent antique condition. The hard rubber retains its matte-black color, with crisp rim details, clean edges, and no major chips or stress fractures.Historical BackgroundThis button dates to the Victorian mourning era of the late 19th century. After Charles Goodyear discovered rubber vulcanization in 1839, and his brother Nelson Goodyear’s hard-rubber patents followed in 1851, vulcanite became a popular alternative to costly materials such as jet and horn.
Companies including the Novelty Rubber Company (N.R. Co.) and the India Rubber Comb Company used precision molds to produce durable buttons with geometric designs. Hard rubber could be polished to a deep ebony-black finish, making it a popular choice for mourning capes, winter mantles, and tailored overcoats in the United States and Victorian Europe.
Packaged giftable