Button
Unknown Artist
ca. 1789
Medium
Brass
Dimensions
Diam. 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)
Classification
Button
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1928
Accession Number
28.20
Art Historical Context
This unassuming brass button, dating to around 1789, offers a tangible glimpse into everyday life in the early American Republic. Measuring just 1 3/8 inches in, it exemplifies the modest yet finely crafted metalwork produced during a pivotal era—mere months after George Washington's inauguration as the nation's first president and amid the young country's efforts to forge a national identity post-Revolution. Crafted brass, a durable and affordable alloy prized for its corrosion resistance and golden sheen, the button likely adorned clothing, uniforms, or accessories for civilians or military...