Button
Unknown Artist
ca. 1770
Medium
glass
Classification
Button
Culture
French
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
From the Hanna S. Kohn Collection, 1951
Accession Number
50.231.213–.220
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass button, crafted in France around 1770, offers a glimpse into the opulent world of 18th-century. During the late Rococo period, when Versailles set the tone for European elegance, even the smallest accessories like buttons became miniature works of art. Worn on lavish garments such as waistcoats, robes à la française, or embroidered coats, these pieces transformed functional fasteners into sparkling embellishments, reflecting the era's love for luxury and refinement. Made of glass—a material prized for its clarity and versatility—the button showcases the advanced glassmakin...