On his return he settled in Shaftesbury, Dorset and set up the Dorset button cottage industry. Dorset buttons were used on court dress and also exported to North America and Europe. At the peak of the production there were about 1,000 employed by the industry.
In 1859 the Ashton's Button machine was invented, which was the end of the cottage industry and livelihood of many people.
There had been attempts to revive the craft in the past and lets hope it will not be forgotten.
I made may first Dorset buttons a few years ago, but like so often, I moved on to other things.
So it was nice to be able to attend another workshop and refresh what I had learned before, specially as Dorset is local to us. This time the buttons were part of a stitching sample.
I love these dorset buttons - I have never tried them so they are on my list. I especially love the little floral one.
ReplyDeleteThese buttons are so beautiful. I love looking at them. I really love your dorset stitchery as well in the soft variegated colours. It is on my 'to do' list, and I hope to have some done before year's end. Well done.
ReplyDeleteHi Radka, your post is old but I found it by chance and I want to tell you how much I like your Dorset buttons. I made a class with Karen Ruane and fabricated also a few buttons - I think it was last year. I love these tiny things.
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