Quote Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR View Post
I have seen buttons on a doublet that were round balls, certainly. I wouldn't think they would be at all odd; in fact, if they were made of silver,
My wife's-- since it fits her--- near antique (close but not yet 100 years old) coatee from Wm Anderson & Sons (Kinloch Anderson) has sterling silver balls for buttons.
There is a long tradition of fine clothing getting silver, gold or even gem stones for buttons. This, in turn, goes back to a more ancient tradition where people literally wore part of their wealth. Once upon a time one really could tell the class and background of a man by his/her clothing--- and if that was not sufficient laws were even enacted (sumptuariae leges or consumption laws) to assure not only who could wear what and how but also what bits of their body could be exposed (by not wearing something).