Men throughout Europe wore silver buttons with their traditional costume in the 19th century. Although filigree buttons were the most typical, many countries used buttons made of sheet metal as well. Most European cultures disapproved of male jewellery, but buttons allowed men to show off their wealth and status. They wore them in extravagant numbers, on sleeves and trousers as well as jackets and waistcoats.

Swedish men wore several different kinds of button. These small rectangular buttons with cut-away corners were waistcoat buttons. They date from the early 19th century, and are much smaller than the rectangular jacket buttons used from the late 19th century onwards.

They have the maker's mark CL on the back. There are a number of silversmiths with these initials who made traditional jewellery in southern Sweden in the early 19th century.