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The king of button motifs — lion heads, heraldic lions and crest designs in gold, brass and antique finishes, from bold statement shanks to refined blazer sets.
Lion Buttons from the Archive
The lion has fronted buttons for two centuries — heraldry's favourite animal, pressed into gold and brass. This collection holds the archive's lions: full-face lion heads with real sculptural depth, heraldic rampant lions on crests, and subtler lion motifs worked into classic blazer designs.
Lion buttons carry outfits: a plain black coat with gold lion-head shanks needs nothing else. They're also steady favourites for costume work and for collectors of figural buttons. Matched vintage sets, millimetre-sized, finite — the bigger lion-head dies especially tend to disappear for good.
Lion Buttons — Questions, Answered
What garments suit lion buttons?
Statement coats and jackets first — a matched set of lion heads transforms plain wool. Also blazers (the heraldic styles), waistcoats, capes and costume pieces.
Are the lion heads flat or raised?
Mostly raised relief — proper sculptural depth, which is what makes vintage figural dies special. Product photos show the profile clearly.
What finishes do lions come in?
Bright gold, antique gold, brass and antique silver dominate. Check the related gold and brass collections for more of each finish.
Do you have other animal buttons?
Yes — see the animal buttons collection for eagles, elephants and more figural vintage dies.
