Waziri Tribal Buttons - Mixed Vintage Stamped Buttons - 10 Ounce Bag

Big 10 ounce bag of vintage flat tribal Waziri costume buttons with stamped design for belly dance costuming DIY.  Tribal buttons can be sewn on individually if you just need one or two, or can be sewn in groups or stung on braided cord and sewn into designs or patterns.  First three photos on this page are typical of the number of buttons in a 10 ounce bag. They are lightweight, so there are quite a few in each bag. Our tribal buttons are made by tribal craftsmen in Pakistan / Afghanistan. In tribal life, vintage components and findings are often reused and repurposed to add adornment to new clothing, jewelry and accessory pieces. You can also find them adorning animals and objects that the owner wishes to keep safe from evil influences. As the item wears and eventually becomes unusable, the pieces that can be saved are repurposed to embellish a newer item. Think of them as the original recycling!

Item No. DMB0320
Button Size:  Most are between 1/2 inch  and 1 inch across
Packet Size:  10 ounces
Design:  Round with stamped design.  Details may vary.
Metal Color:  Silvery to slightly brassy, some may be dark
Metal Finish:  Most will be unpolished, although some are a bit shiny.
Attachment Type:  Button shank or loop on the back for stringing or sewing. 
Additional Info: Variation in stamped design, size, color, finish, and condition.
There may be bent or curled edges on a few, some may have a bit of patina.
There may also be an occasional button of a different variety that snuck in unannounced.
Country of Origin: Pakistan/Afghanistan
Condition: Vintage

First three photos are representative of how many buttons a 10 ounce bag contains. These buttons are fairly lightweight so there are quite a few buttons in 10 ounces.

You will receive similar pieces to those shown in the photos on this page in the quantity indicated. These are USED buttons that have previously adorned tribal clothing, accessories, household goods, animal trappings or other items.  Buttons are hand-assembled.  Since these are vintage pieces, they may have small flaws such as shanks being off center, small dents, or the edges may be bent or curled. 

A NOTE ON THE CONDITION OF TRIBAL ITEMS: Our tribal components are used pieces from from faraway lands. As used pieces they may be tarnished or otherwise reflect their prior lives as treasured tribal pieces. Please know that we strive to maintain the tribal allure of our items and therefore we do not clean or repair these pieces in any way. We leave that choice to the buyer, as each may prefer something different. This not only maintains the old, tribal look of each piece that our belly dance customers seek, but also preserves the value of a piece that cleaning might diminish.

Tips for using DIY tribal buttons:
Buttons seem to be the one costuming item that puzzles people more than any other!  Frequent questions are "How do you get these attached?" and "Do you need a special or curved needle?"  And sometimes we even hear "I just can't get them sewn on!"  The trick is to do as the tribal people themselves do!  The easiest way is to braid some yarn (available in ANY color to match costuming) into a long piece.  Then take a piece of cellophane tape and make an aglet (think shoelace end) on one end of the braid.  Using the taped end, thread the braided yarn through the shank on the back of the button.  Repeat with as many buttons as you need, then sew the braided yarn down in any row or pattern that you like!  Another tip that we sometimes use for adding a few individually spaced buttons is to drill a small hole on each side of it and simply sew through the holes.  Use a 1/16 inch drill bit and be very careful.  Sometimes buttons are thinner metal and holes can be punched with an awl.  Of course, if your buttons are already strung on a cord or rolled fabric, you can simply sew the cord down to your costuming project and be done!