There was a long thread about buttons one or two months ago and many
references were given. Check there.  

Painted buttons are not mentioned to my knowledge. Plated/gilded and
covered buttons are common as are plain/polished buttons of copper alloy
or white metal.  I don't seem to remember much discussion about
lacquered buttons.  Does anyone?  I am sure it would have been highly
perishable and removed with the first cleaning.

Keith

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark
Branstner
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 2:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Corrosion on brass buttons


Also, as I cleaned these buttons, and thinking of others I've looked 
at over the years, a question came to mind ...  Clearly, not all of 
these were gold or silver washed ...  I have a sense that some of 
these were painted or maybe lacquered?  Or even cloth-covered?  Does 
anyone have better real world knowledge of this?