Card of buttons

1940-1980

Place madeGermany, Europe

Glass, metal, paper, string

Each (button): 5/8 x 1/4 in. (1.6 x 0.6 cm)
Overall (card): 3 3/4 x 2 1/2 in. (9.5 x 6.4 cm)

Gift of Lois Greene Stone

2004.27.8

The donor's father, Leo A. Greene (1908-1954), spent his entire career at B. Blumenthal & Co. (founded in 1877), the leading American button importer and manufacturer in the country for much of the 20th century. The company had a large showroom in New York City on Broadway between 38th and 39th streets. Greene began as a stock boy in the 1920's and rose to Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors by the end of his career. La Mode was a division of B. Blumenthal & Company.

DescriptionCard of 3 5/8" clear glass buttons with gold metallic floriform design attached to card with white string; 3 buttons missing from card. Card printed "B/ Le Chic/ BUTTONS" in red and white triangular logo; "FASHIONABLE/ GUARANTEED WASHABLE" printed on diagonal at top; "25c/ 6 buttons on card CRYST./GOLD/ PATTERN 5026 size 24 (5/8 inch)/ Germany-US-Zone" printed at bottom. Ruler printed in red on back of card with "Use this handy guage for measuring your buttonholes" alongside logo and explanations "FAMOUS FOR QUALITY/ Since 1877/ Every Le Chic button is the/ product of experienced, superior/ craftsmanship" and "FAMOUS FOR FASHION/ Le Chic buttons are fashion-/ planned to flatter your wardrobe/ the kind of buttons you are/ always proud to wear"; printed at bottom "Created by the makers/ of internationally famous/ La Mode Buttons."

ClassificationsSEWING TOOLS & EQUIPMENT