10 buttons on blue card, 1850s onwards

Historical information

Sally Hearn (1932–2018) was a dedicated button collector and a prominent member of the Victoria Button Collectors Club. Her button collection was featured as a primary display in the 'The Melbourne Story' exhibition at the Melbourne Museum, which opened in mid-2008.

Significance

The Hearn Collection of locally made and international buttons is historically and aesthetically significant as it illustrates the textile and manufacturing history of button making.

Physical description

This item consists of 10 metallic buttons on navy blue card, each having a brass colouring. Each has significant detailing depicting various creatures and objects.

Inscriptions & markings

Offical Catalogue Entry:
"Mrs Rawlings had been the wardrobe mistress at the Box Hill Theatre. The buttons were among many given to her by the wardrobe mistress at the newly closed down Tivoli Theatre. So these buttons at one time “performed” at the Tivoli!
She told she was “sick of the things” and had sprinkled most of them in the garden around the rose bushes! Each time I drive past that garden my fingers itch to go in and do some weeding!! or hire a metal detector!"

Other parts of this item

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