Mid to Late 1800’s Bone and Horn Buttons

Here is a mixture of bone and horn buttons with varying degrees of simple decoration.  There are 18 undergarment buttons and about 45 buttons that would have been used on outer, more visible clothing.  These are made of bovine or swine bone which was soaked or steamed to soften then cut into buttons.  One of the buttons is larger and has more ornate decoration in the form of circles around the outer edge. The others are more modestly made, some with a slight cup, others with simple carvings.  It is possible that a couple shell buttons have snuck into this mix….