Knoop met vier lelies c. 1590 - 1596

This bronze button with four lilies was created by an anonymous maker. Its existence prompts us to consider the social and cultural values attached to dress and personal adornment. Buttons, like this one, were not mere functional objects. They were markers of identity and status. The four lilies suggest wealth and nobility, evoking the heraldic symbols associated with powerful families. For the wearer, this button was a statement, an outward expression of one's place in the social hierarchy. Consider the labor involved in creating such a small but detailed object and the layers of meaning it carried. Although diminutive, this button is a reminder of how even the smallest artifacts can reflect larger societal structures and personal aspirations. What stories might this button tell about its wearer, and the world they inhabited?