Button

Art Historical Context

This delicate "Button" from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume, dated between 1770 and 1885, offers a glimpse into the refined world of American or European fashion accessories. by an unknown artist, exemplifies how everyday objects like buttons became canvases for artistry, featuring intricate profiles of women—a motif echoing the neoclassical revival that celebrated classical antiquity and feminine ideals during the late Enlightenment and Victorian eras. In an age when buttons adorned everything from gentlemen's waistcoats to ladies' gowns, such pieces highlighted personal style and social status. The women's profiles, rendered with elegant lines, likely drew from portraiture traditions, symbolizing grace, virtue, or romantic sentiment. Spanning over a century of turbulent history—from the American Revolution to the Industrial Revolution—this button reflects evolving tastes in decorative arts, where functionality met subtle storytelling. Generously donated through the Hanna S. Kohn Collection in 1951, it invites us to appreciate the unsung craftsmanship of costume history, reminding visitors that even the smallest artifacts whisper tales of bygone elegance.