Button

Art Historical Context

This exquisite button, crafted around 1775 in France by an unknown artist, exemplifies the opulent fashion accessories of the late 18th century. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Costume Institute as part of the Hanna S Kohn Collection, it reflects the era's Rococo elegance just before the French Revolution, women's attire featured lavish details to signify status and refinement. Made from ivory, metal, and strass—imitation gemstones that mimicked costly diamonds—the button showcases masterful 18th-century techniques in luxury goods production. Ivory provided a smooth, carveable surface for intricate designs, while strass added dazzling sparkle, making even small adornments like this feel like wearable jewelry. Such buttons often embellished bodices, cuffs, and robes à la française, turning everyday garments into statements of taste. Though diminutive, this artifact highlights French cultural prowess in decorative arts and women's fashion, where accessories blurred the line between clothing and fine jewelry. Visitors can appreciate how it captures a fleeting moment of pre-revolutionary extravagance, preserved for us today.