Obituary writing for the newspaper is an art form, according to the author. She came across an obituary for Diana Epstein. That she was the world's foremost button collector inspired the author to look into button collecting, She learned that button making is an art form she never realized The author shows how the history of button making reveals history and the social, cultural and esthetic aspects of fashion. The oldest buttons are 4000 years old, used decoratively. Not until the 1200s were buttons used as fasteners. King Frances I of France in 1520 wore them in excess, a symbol of his power.