Button

Art Historical Context

This charming 1850 British button, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of's Costume Institute, offers a glimpse into Victorian-era accessories. Titled simply *Button* and created by an unknown artist, it features of men and women in profile, as suggested by its tags. Such decorative buttons were more than functional fasteners; they served as miniature canvases for personal expression, adorning garments like waistcoats, dresses, and coats. In the mid-19th, Britain's industrial boom made intricate buttons affordable yet aspirational, blending craftsmanship with emerging mass production techniques. Profiles of men and women evoke classical portraiture influences, reminiscent of cameos or silhouette art popular in the Romantic period. This piece, from the Hanna S. Kohn Collection acquired in 1951, highlights how everyday objects carried social narratives—perhaps celebrating gender roles, courtship, or family heritage. As part of the Costume Institute's vast holdings, this button underscores the artistry in overlooked fashion details, inviting us to appreciate the tactile elegance of 19th-century British culture. Though its exact medium remains unspecified, its survival speaks to the enduring allure of wearable history.