Vintage Czech Luster Glass Button set in Sterling Silver size 7

Victorian Lustered Glass Buttons

Victorian lustered glass buttons, often produced between roughly 1860 and 1914, emerged as a popular, affordable alternative to expensive jet jewelry during the height of Queen Victoria’s mourning fashion. These buttons, primarily manufactured in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic), were characterized by pressed black glass adorned with metallic, iridescent, or colorful luster coatings. Bohemia was the center of button production, with many small factories using steam power to press molten glass into intricate molds. After being pressed, the black glass was frequently hand-finished with a metallic luster coating, appearing in gold, silver, copper, or iridescent rainbow effects.