Museum object · Accessories and Personal Effects
Box of spare buttons from the travel wardrobe trunk used by Cab Calloway
mid 20th-late 20th century
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Source catalog description
This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.
A jewelry presentation box with spare buttons from the travel wardrobe trunk used by Cab Calloway. The exterior of the box (A2015.273.1.1.5a) is brown with pebble faux leather finish and a brass hinge at the back. The interior has an ivory satin lining and a burgundy velvet tray with four, brown, elastic band holders. Stamped on the on the satin lining is the text [SWANK]. Inside the box are nine buttons and a plastic counter. Five of the button are round, flat pearl buttons (A2015.273.1.1.5b - A2015.273.1.1.5f) with four button holes. Two buttons are round, leather covered, shank buttons (A2015.273.1.1.5g and A2015.273.1.1.5h). There is also a light brown flat button with four button holes (A2015.273.1.1.5i), and a small black button with two button holes (A2015.273.1.1.5j). The plastic counter is tortoise shell (A2015.273.1.1.5k).
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Sources & collection details
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗
Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13
Catalog reference: A2015.273.1.1.5a-k
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