Button
In 1937, Paris hosted an Exposition or World's Fair. Referred to as "Paris 1937," the Exposition included six different shows and museum openings, including "L'Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne," which emphasized arts and techniques of the modern age and included a "Pavillon de l'Elégance," a showcase of the work of various couturiers including Schiaparelli. For her fall 1937 collection, Schiaparelli designed several pieces inspired by the upcoming Exposition, including these ornamental buttons inscribed with "Paris 1937." The motif of a ship sailing on a turbulent sea depicted on the trompe l'oeil medals is the same motif pictured on the coat of arms of Paris, in use since 1358. The buttons, representative of a medal hanging from a ribbon and made of cast metal alloy, are an example of a typical Schiaparelli design device in that the object is created in a material that is the antithesis of the silk and precious metal used to make an actual medal.
Artwork Details
- Title: Button
- Design House: Schiaparelli (French, founded 1927)
- Designer: Elsa Schiaparelli (Italian, 1890–1973)
- Maker: Attributed to Jean Clément (French, 1900–1949)
- Maker: Attributed to Roger Jean-Pierre (French, active 1934–1976)
- Date: fall 1937
- Culture: French
- Medium: metal
- Credit Line: Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Arturo and Paul Peralta-Ramos, 1955
- Object Number: 2009.300.1500a–c
- Curatorial Department: The Costume Institute
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli
fall/winter 1937–38
Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli
summer 1940
Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli
1936–37
Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli
fall 1937
Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli
ca. 1938
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.