Button collection

1840-1860

Place madeBirmingham, England, Europe

Metal, glass, mother of pearl, glass, wood, paper

Framed: 9 5/8 × 6 5/8 × 1 1/8 in. (24.4 × 16.8 × 2.9 cm)

Gift of Mr. Achilles H. Kohn

1952.32

This was the collection of the donor's wife, Hanna S. Kohn. Johanna Maria (Jenny) Lind (1820-1887) was born in Stockholm and as a child began studying there at the Conservatory of Music. She studied in paris with Manuel Garcia around 1840. Known as the "Swedish Nightingale," she toured Europe in the 1840s and won a popular reputation. She came to the U.S. under the management of P. T. Barnum from 1850-1852, endearing herself to the American public.

DescriptionMatted and framed collection of various types of 10 Jenny Lind souvenir buttons and a brass button of what as possibly P. T. Barnum's home; all of the buttons are in relief, the Jenny Lind buttons are busts; eight of the smaller Jenny Lind buttons are made of various colors of glass and have brass backings, a larger one is a brass bust with mother of pearl backing, the largest is all brass.

Markingshandwritten: top center, above and below top button: "JENNY LIND / MADE BY ALLEN & MOORE, BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND"

ClassificationsSOUVENIRS