L. Nichols Buttons

Lionel Nichols born in England, 1909 hand made thousands of glass buttons from the mid 1940s to mid 1960s for the British Haute Couture industry and eventually for costume jewellery. Now his work has resurfaced as his daughter has begun to sell his remaining stock on the internet.

Lionel Nichols

Born in London 1909 and died in 1993, Lionel Nichols worked in London's Marylebone hand making buttons from glass. As high fashion became less about buttons, he went on to make costume jewellery.

How They Were Made

He was frequently commissioned by the couture houses to make buttons for specific pieces. The buttons were made in a way which Lionel himself invented. He had no industrial experience and so all his work was experimental. He would cut raw sheets of vitrolite glass into squares, melted it in the furnace. Then begun a process of the glass going in and out of the furnace as he worked, painted and shaped each piece.

His Customers

Lionel Nichols' customers included many of the leading London couturiers such as Norman Hartnoll; Hardy Amies; John Cavanagh; Matita; Jo Mattli and Ronald Paterson