Connecting to Collections Care

 View Only

  • 1.  What is happening with this button?

    Posted 09-29-2025 10:20

    We recently received a Lee brand denim jacket that dates from the 1950s.  It shows very little evidence of having actually been worn.  However, when writing up a condition report I discovered something is happening to the metal used for the back of the tack style buttons. The metal is turning a light yellow, see image

    The metal used to make the back of the tack style button has turned yellow and it does rub off.

    . It does rub off and where it has come in contact with the denim it has caused discoloration.  Does one know what type of metal this could be? or the terminology for what is happening to it?



    ------------------------------
    Katherine Owens
    Curator of Collections
    Missouri State Museum
    Jefferson City MO
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: What is happening with this button?

    Posted 09-30-2025 10:48

    Hi Katherine, I'm not a metals person, but that looks like it could be cadmium corrosion to me. Here's a link to a poster by Arianna Carini Johnston that has some images of cadmium corrosion: Cadmium Plating in Scientific and Technological Collections | National Air and Space Museum



    ------------------------------
    Maeve O'Shea
    Winchester
    United States
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: What is happening with this button?

    Posted 09-30-2025 10:48

    Hi Katherine,

     

    Not knowing for sure what this button is made from, I can make an educated guess. A material called nickel silver (aka German silver) will corrode with that light yellow color (https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Nickel_silver). The corrosion process may be galvanic corrosion (https://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Galvanic_corrosion). This happens when two different metals come in contact and, over time, electrons flow from one metal to the other causing one to corrosion more quickly and one to corrode more slowly. Another likely corrosion process is that the textile contains acids and that is causing any metal to touch them to corrode more quickly. Someone else might have a different idea. Please reach out if you have any questions.

     

    Kate

     

    Katherine Ridgway

    State Archaeological Conservator

    Department of Historic Resources

     

    Email  katherine.ridgway@dhr.virginia.gov

    Phone  804-482-6442

    Title: line art

     

    2801 Kensington Ave, Richmond, VA 23221

    www.dhr.virginia.gov

     




    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: What is happening with this button?

    Posted 10-02-2025 15:59


    Katherine, Thank you for the information.  That's very helpful. It probably its run of the mill galvanic corrosion which is much less concerning than it being corrosion of cadmium as suggested by Maeve.  

    Maeve, thank you for the response.  I did look up the use of cadmium plating on civilian buttons with not much luck except it  does seem like it could have been used but it was rare.  Thank heavens! I would have been surprised but not shocked to learn of its use for such everyday items.


    Thanks again for the responses. I'm always grateful to have access to colleagues who are willing to share their knowledge.  Have a great day!

    Katherine Owens
    Curator of Collections
    Missouri State Museum
    100 Jefferson St.
    Jefferson City, Mo 65101
    573-522-1980




    Original Message


Related Content