Button

Unknown Artist

ca. 1770

Button by Unknown Artist

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...

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