Horn buttons

The traditional horn buttons are, of course, more expensive than the plastic or polyester ones, as well as more expensive than the corozo buttons. However, it is a real pleasure to touch them, to study their natural patterns, to feel the warmth, which is characteristic only of the natural materials.
That is why many people like them and the demand for them is quite steady.

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Opportunities that the material offers

The horn is in itself unique and imparts its properties to the horn buttons made from it. Its specific properties and characteristic features, such as thickness, structure, patterns and colour depend on the type, age, health status, etc. of the animal. Modern technologies make it possible its natural beauty to be revealed and its styling according to the designers’ projects.

Depending on their size, the additional treatments, fine or coarse texture, the real horn buttons are suitable for different clothes in view of their style, fabric and use.
They add an excellent finish to clothing of natural materials, especially to manual knitwear and look perfect both on warm winter clothes and on those of the sports line.

Historical background

When people began to wrap themselves in leather and fur, a need appeared these leather of fur pieces to be fixed with something to stay on their backs. If someone claims that he knows what exactly the first fixing item was – he obviously exaggerates. However, it is close to the mind that it was made of material these people have readily available each day and which was among the first materials they have learned to process. Most probably these first materials were wood and the horns of the animals they have eaten.
Of course these were not the horn buttons of the type we use today, but it is the function that is important in this case, and not the form.

Easy accessibility and processing of the material

Undoubtedly, these were significant factors at the time when ancient people started to produce their first labour tools, ornaments and items for the household. They have also determined the emergence of the first horn buttons. Later in time people discovered how to reveal the natural beauty and uniqueness of the structure and pattern of the horns of various animals.
The material is soft enough to be processed without much effort and with primitive tools, while hard enough for the intended functions.

Over the millenniums up until now people have not ceased to use horn buttons, regardless of fashion trends, good looks and functionality concepts.

Why we still like horn buttons

The attitude to the buttons have changed with the change in times and manners. With the course of time two of their functions alternate in taking primary importance: the utility function – to button and securely fix the garment on the body, and the magic one – to act as an amulet and to protect their owner from evil forces and spells. Almost always people took the opportunity to use them as a decoration. In certain moments this trend even puts to a test the mastery of craftsmen, artists and designers, who competed to make exquisite decorations of the small buttons.

The common horn buttons have performed successfully each of these functions and tasks.

Today we value them mostly because of their natural origin that fully meets our aspirations to use eco-friendly materials. Their production does not contaminate the environment. The unnecessary or lost buttons can easily be recycled in a safe and natural manner. They give us the feeling of something natural and warm. Due to the origin of the raw material, each one of the finished horn buttons is one of a kind and it is almost impossible to find two buttons that are exactly the same.

Horn buttons for maniacs

The eccentricity maniacs choose buffalo horn buttons. The horns of these large animals are very hard and therefore more difficult to process. To meet the consumer requirements, it is essential that the natural colour and the structural lines of the material are preserved. Once they were made by hand, but today modern machines are used to this end. These horn buttons are an effective accessory of various coats, suits and trousers.

See also: corozo buttons; polyester buttons; shell buttons; bone buttons; imitation horn buttons.