Button from a Uniform
Unknown Artist
1770–1800
Medium
Pewter
Dimensions
Diam. 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm)
Classification
Button
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Alice E. Parmelee Collection, Gift of Robert M. Parmelee and Mrs. William L. Parker, 1916
Accession Number
16.116.76
Art Historical Context
This unassuming pewter button, measuring just 1 1/8 inches in, offers a tangible glimpse into late 18th-century American. Crafted between 1770 and 1800, it once adorned a uniform—likely military or civilian—during the turbulent era of the American Revolution early republic. Pewter, an alloy of tin and other metals, was prized for its affordability, durability and subtle sheen, making it a practical choice for functional yet decorative fasteners on everyday garments. As a product of skilled metalworking, the button exemplifies the modest artistry of colonial craftsmen. Cast or stamped techniqu...