A Lifetime Collection of Buttons & Buckles

A Lifetime Collection of Buttons & Buckles

We are delighted to be offering for auction an extensive private collection of buttons and buckles dating from the 18^th to the 20^th century in the 7^th February Fashion, Costume and Accessories Sale.

A Lifetime Collection of Buttons and Buckles will be sold in the Fashion, Costume & Textiles Sales throughout 2025.

The collection was put together over many years by Janette Howell (1932-2024), and includes silver and paste-set examples, cut steel, French decorative buttons, pressed glass and military designs, along with mid-20^th century examples by Birmini, 1930s stylised buttons and more.

Janette Howell (nee Rusted) was born in 1932 in Lowestoft, but spent the war years at her grandparents’ village shop in Mendham, Suffolk. Just after the war, she visited Lyme Regis with her family, and in her diary wrote that she most enjoyed searching for fossils and visiting the town’s antiques shops.

Later, Jan worked at a needlework shop and then a drawing office. During this time she met John Howell, who worked as a senior engineer for BT, and the pair married in 1956. They lived in Upminster, where their interest in collecting ceramics, buttons and related items really took off. They joined the Hornchurch Historical Society, took part in archaeological digs at Great Baddow and Rainham and went beachcombing along the Thames at Grays.

When Janette’s aunt died in 1981, she left her house in Mendham to Jan and John, and after moving to Suffolk they were in full collecting mode and their number of joint interests at this time became prolific. They were part of the British Button Society, the Family History Societies of Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex, Friends of Norwich Museum, the English Ceramics Society, the Wedgwood Society and more.

Their collections amassed over many years and included 18^th century Lowestoft porcelain, books, buckles, buttons, studio pottery and other ceramics. They held dozens of tea parties at Mendham, welcoming many collecting friends including Henry Sandon, Liane Richards, Bernard Watney and Simon Spero to their home.

Both Jan and John were extremely generous in sharing their time and expertise with other enthusiasts and are very fondly missed by their many friends.