Button

Unknown Artist

ca. 1775

Button by Unknown Artist

Medium

glass, pearl, metal

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

51.47.1–.4

Tags

CupidButterfliesStars

Art Historical Context

This exquisite glass, pearl, and metal button crafted in France around 1775 offers a glimpse into the opulent world of 18th-century. During the late Rococo period, just before the French Revolution, buttons like this were far more than fasteners—they were miniature jewels adorning lavish garments. Produced for the elite, such accessories showcased the era's love for playful ornamentation, transforming everyday clothing into statements of whimsy and wealth. The button's intricate motifs of Cupid, butterflies, and stars evoke the Rococo spirit: Cupid symbolizes flirtatious love, butterflies rep...

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