Prosser molded buttons are marvelous dating tools and the definitive
work for these buttons, which are frequently misidentified as milk glass
buttons since they are pretty vitreous, is Sprague's 2002 Historical
Archaeology article.  Look for the diagnostic stippling on the back of
the button and you'll have a handy TPQ of 1840.  I'm less clear on the
qualities and date ranges of milk glass as it may relate to buttons, but
maybe Rick can shed some light on this too?

Sprague, Roderick
2002 China or Prosser Button Identification and Dating.  Historical
Archaeology 36(2):111-127. 

Laurie Burgess


Laurie E. Burgess
Associate Chair
Department of Anthropology
National Museum of Natural History
Smithsonian Institution
10th and Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20560


-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Carol Serr
Sent: Tuesday, October 03, 2006 8:56 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: dating glass buttons...?

Oh...I have no idea.  But, you arent confusing porcelain Prosser buttons
with glass here, right?