Museo del Bottone in Santarcangelo: 15,000 buttons from 63 countries
Located in Santarcangelo di Romagna, the Museo del Bottone showcases a remarkable collection of 15,000 buttons sourced from 63 countries. Established in 2002 by Giorgio Gallavotti, the museum's origins trace back to the closure of his family's haberdashery, which had been operating since the 1920s. Beginning in the 1980s, Gallavotti curated buttons on thematic panels, and in 2008, the collection transitioned into a public archive. The museum is partnered with the Button Museum in Patagonia and works alongside the National Button Society of Boston. It has inspired twelve theses from institutions such as Sapienza University of Rome and the University of Bologna, featuring historical buttons and items associated with figures like Napoleon's son and Italian astronauts. Gallavotti highlights the emotional value of buttons.
Key facts
- Museo del Bottone in Santarcangelo di Romagna holds 15,000 buttons from 63 countries
- Founded by Giorgio Gallavotti, former haberdasher and founder of the National Association of Small Museums
- Collection began in 2002 when Gallavotti closed his family's haberdashery, opened by father Giacomo in the 1920s
- Became a public archive in 2008
- Twinned with Button Museum in Patagonia and in contact with National Button Society of Boston
- Subject of twelve theses from Sapienza, Politecnico di Milano, Venice Academy of Fine Arts, and University of Bologna
- Exhibition has three sections: historical timeline (9,000+ buttons), materials, and symbolic history
- Notable buttons include one designed by Picasso for Coco Chanel and buttons worn by astronauts Cristoforetti and Parmitano
Entities
Artists
- Giorgio Gallavotti
- Giacomo Gallavotti
- Pablo Picasso
- Coco Chanel
- Samantha Cristoforetti
- Luca Parmitano
- Napoleon Bonaparte
- Marie Louise of Austria
- Pope Paul VI
- Pope Francis
- Gianni Morandi
Institutions
- Museo del Bottone
- Associazione Nazionale dei Piccoli Musei
- National Button Society of Boston
- Sapienza University of Rome
- Politecnico di Milano
- Venice Academy of Fine Arts
- University of Bologna
- NASA
- ESA
- Artribune
Locations
- Santarcangelo di Romagna
- Italy
- Romagna
- Patagonia
- Boston
- Rome
- Milan
- Venice
- Bologna