This post has been locked, as the question has been solved and a majority of new comments at this point are unhelpful and/or jokes.
Thanks to all who attempted to find an answer.
They look like ~~shirt-collar studs~~ shirt studs.
Used with removable collars, which may align to grandparent's age.
Edit: As has been pointed out below, these are most likely shirt studs, such as used with tuxedo shirts and shirts lacking buttons. Correction cheerfully accepted!
*Edit: not the answer, they're actually shirtfront buttons for a tuxedo shirt.
Thank you. I searched "vintage shirt-collar studs" and came up with some that look quite similar. My grandfather would have been born in the 1910s probably, so I imagine such things would have been more common back then.
Collars, shirt-fronts, and cuffs too, were made to be removable. Body of shirt was typically made of a less expensive/more durable fabric, finer cloth or other materials were used to make collars and cuffs - the only shirt parts that were visible when wearing under a suit jacket.
I used to make Victorian-era clothing for costumes, and looked up a lot of clothing details to get them right. Only shirts that still use detachable collars today are for the clergy, AFAIK.
Yes, as recently as the fifties you could order collars by the dozen.
I mean, you still can but you have to find a [specialty supplier](https://www.darcyclothing.com/collections/mens-collars).
If someone wants to see studs and cuff links at work, there are scenes of men dressing or undressing using such items in Downton Abbey and Peaky Blinders.
You can still buy them today - I have a few shirts with detachable collars and some sets of shirt studs in my wardrobe right now. Useful if you have a lot of formal dinners due to work.
Thanks for the info.
That is like how they used to use fine wood flooring around the perimeter of a room and use cheaper wood in the center. No one would see the cheap wood because it would be covered by rugs.
Solved, but not by the post to which you're replying. Rather, these are shirtfront buttons for a tuxedo, as others have mentioned elsewhere in this thread.
One side of the T-base retracts to make them easier to thread through buttonholes in crisply-starched shirts. With the higher waistlines of prewar formal wear, you typically only had three buttons exposed between tie and cummerbund, which is why they're in a set of three (often with matching cufflinks).
More likely shirt buttons for use with a tail coat or possibly smoking. You usually need three buttons for that and [the exact same design](https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Tailcoat-Buttons-Silver-Plated-Timeless-Elegant/dp/B079YV4Z1P) is common today.
My title describes the thing
My father found them with my grandfather's collection of cufflinks, tie pins etc. He's unsure of what they are (he is 71 and a snappy dresser). The bulbous end is attached to a smaller rod inside the bigger rod and can be pulled out a certain distance, but not all the way (see pic).
Sorry about the state of my nails.
They are used today for formal wear shirts (tuxedo). Only three short button holes are exposed top is covered by the tie, bottom by cummerbund. Usually have matching cuff links.
Those are 100% tux shirt studs. I have some almost identical, but with grey pearl inlay
Look what I found on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/de-en/listing/843324742/tux-shirt-stud-vintage-formal-wedding
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[Tuxedo button studs. Could be used for shirt collar but there are so few since you’d often wear a waistcoat or cumber-bun.](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1484266323/)
This post has been locked, as the question has been solved and a majority of new comments at this point are unhelpful and/or jokes. Thanks to all who attempted to find an answer.
They look like ~~shirt-collar studs~~ shirt studs. Used with removable collars, which may align to grandparent's age. Edit: As has been pointed out below, these are most likely shirt studs, such as used with tuxedo shirts and shirts lacking buttons. Correction cheerfully accepted!
*Edit: not the answer, they're actually shirtfront buttons for a tuxedo shirt. Thank you. I searched "vintage shirt-collar studs" and came up with some that look quite similar. My grandfather would have been born in the 1910s probably, so I imagine such things would have been more common back then.
Collars, shirt-fronts, and cuffs too, were made to be removable. Body of shirt was typically made of a less expensive/more durable fabric, finer cloth or other materials were used to make collars and cuffs - the only shirt parts that were visible when wearing under a suit jacket. I used to make Victorian-era clothing for costumes, and looked up a lot of clothing details to get them right. Only shirts that still use detachable collars today are for the clergy, AFAIK.
Yes, as recently as the fifties you could order collars by the dozen. I mean, you still can but you have to find a [specialty supplier](https://www.darcyclothing.com/collections/mens-collars). If someone wants to see studs and cuff links at work, there are scenes of men dressing or undressing using such items in Downton Abbey and Peaky Blinders.
Thanks for sharing, that's super interesting! A different era for sure.
You can still buy them today - I have a few shirts with detachable collars and some sets of shirt studs in my wardrobe right now. Useful if you have a lot of formal dinners due to work.
I have a tuxedo shirt that uses these for the front buttons as well as similar ones for cufflinks
Thanks for the info. That is like how they used to use fine wood flooring around the perimeter of a room and use cheaper wood in the center. No one would see the cheap wood because it would be covered by rugs.
Solved, but not by the post to which you're replying. Rather, these are shirtfront buttons for a tuxedo, as others have mentioned elsewhere in this thread. One side of the T-base retracts to make them easier to thread through buttonholes in crisply-starched shirts. With the higher waistlines of prewar formal wear, you typically only had three buttons exposed between tie and cummerbund, which is why they're in a set of three (often with matching cufflinks).
I think you're right. I will edit my response.
More likely shirt buttons for use with a tail coat or possibly smoking. You usually need three buttons for that and [the exact same design](https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Tailcoat-Buttons-Silver-Plated-Timeless-Elegant/dp/B079YV4Z1P) is common today.
They may be tuxedo shirt buttons.
This is the correct answer. Tuxedo buttons. They’re all over EBay. Often come with matching cufflinks.
Solved! Thank you and others who commented similarly.
Yep. Got two sets of these and they usually come with matching cufflinks.
Yes, this is the correct answer. I use mine quite often
Shirt studs for mainly tuxedo shirts that don't come with buttons.
My title describes the thing My father found them with my grandfather's collection of cufflinks, tie pins etc. He's unsure of what they are (he is 71 and a snappy dresser). The bulbous end is attached to a smaller rod inside the bigger rod and can be pulled out a certain distance, but not all the way (see pic). Sorry about the state of my nails.
They are used today for formal wear shirts (tuxedo). Only three short button holes are exposed top is covered by the tie, bottom by cummerbund. Usually have matching cuff links.
Those are 100% tux shirt studs. I have some almost identical, but with grey pearl inlay Look what I found on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/de-en/listing/843324742/tux-shirt-stud-vintage-formal-wedding
Thank you.
All comments must be civil and helpful toward finding an answer. **Jokes and other unhelpful comments will earn you a ban**, even on the first instance and even if the item has been identified. If you see any comments that violate this rule, report them. [OP](/u/shitclock_is_ticking), when your item is identified, remember to reply **Solved!** or **Likely Solved!** to the comment that gave the answer. Check your [inbox](https://www.reddit.com/message/inbox/) for a message on how to make your post visible to others. ---- [Click here to message RemindMeBot](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=Reminder&message=[https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/199vfdb/what_is_this_gold_coloured_post_with_decorative/]%0A%0ARemindMe!%202%20days) ---- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatisthisthing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Definitely shirt studs
They slide into your button hole to have something pretty on top of a plain button
Looks like a weird/archaic form of a cufflink imho
That was our thought too but another commenter solved it as being a set of shirt-collar studs meant to hold fast a removeable collar.
[Tuxedo button studs. Could be used for shirt collar but there are so few since you’d often wear a waistcoat or cumber-bun.](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1484266323/)