Button Museum – Santarcangelo di Romagna

A very curious museum. A collection of 9000 buttons to discover the history of humankind

Many people think that the button is only an ornament of common use: the Button Museum in Santarcangelo di Romagna tells us a different story because the button is also a very symbolic object.

Giorgio Gallavotti, the founder of the museum, started cataloging the buttons according to the models, materials, shapes, uses over time and characteristics since he started working in the sewing shop his father had opened in 1929.
And the history of the button has fascinated him so much that today the museum boasts over 9000 specimens, from 1600 until today.
Among them also the button created by Pablo Picasso for Coco Chanel.

The museum is divided into three sections where the buttons are displayed according to a chronological and temporal path.

The first section of the museum is dedicated to the history of buttons from the late 1800s to the late 1900s. In this section, visitors can observe a great change in shapes and materials.

The second one is dedicated to the materials used to “make” the button: practically everything was used: mother-of-pearl, the horn of various animals, wood, ivory, corozo (called natural ivory but actually it is a tropical fruit), silver, turtle, galalith, coconut, glass, raffia palms, enamels, etc…

The third section exposes “important” buttons according to history and meaning starting from 1600. Large, small, precious, famous buttons…
In the museum visitors can also discover stories, uses, customs of the button, and how it was used to communicate power, wealth…

USEFUL INFORMATION
Opening hours: Saturday, Sunday and feast days>>>
For groups and visits on days other than opening days reservation is mandatory calling the phone number +39 366.686.9945
Free offer admission with a guided tour

(Photo credits Button Museum)
——

IS FASHION YOUR PASSION?
See further museums in Italy dedicated to the history of fashion and costume: clothes, but also shoes and accessories>>>

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW FURTHER INTERESTING MUSEUMS?
See a selection of Theme Museums in Italy>>>