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Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Browsing Through Tender Buttons, on the Upper East Side

Tender Buttons, nyc
Photo by myself on 62nd Street and Lexington Avenue, on the Upper East Side.

Tender Buttons, a store specializing in antique buttons, is located in a tiny building on the Upper East Side.

I first heard about this place when I just started living in New York. My boss at the time mentioned it while discussing interior decorating, and I've been haunted by the name ever since.

And why not? 'Tender Buttons' sounds captivating. The name refers to a book by Gertrude Stein, who saw a sign at a vegetable market for tender (button) mushrooms. The insides of the store are full of little boxes, stacked from floor to ceiling, filled with a variety of precious buttons, all organized by color.

The staff was nice enough to allow me to take a photo inside. Unfortunately I didn't have time to browse around. If I had, I would have been there for a long, long time, making small discoveries with every little box.

Next time you find yourself on the Upper East Side with a spare afternoon, why bother visiting a museum? Browse through buttons dating back to the 18th century, and maybe take home a few.
  Tender Buttons, nyc

For the Tender Buttons website, including their detailed history, close ups of their button stash and more photos of their interiors, click here.

Related posts: Outside O. Ottomanelli's Meat Market, in the Village, Russ & Daughters, the Lower East Side, and Esposito & Sons, in Hell's Kitchen.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for sharing! The store looks amazing. In London we have The Button Queen (http://www.thebuttonqueen.co.uk/) but my personal favourite is Knopenwinkel in Amsterdam (http://www.knopenwinkel.net/fotosuk.htm) I could - and have - stayed there for hours!

Rebecca ~ Molly_Coddles

Stefan Jansson said...

That is a lot of buttons.

biebkriebels said...

I could spent quite some time there, love those specialized shops.

Andy said...

A catchy name and catchy photo of a catchy shop.

RedPat said...

I love it and love their sign! I would be in there for a long time.

iaMarc said...

On my list for the next time I visit NYC. I love non tourist places to visit.

Washington Cesar Takeuchi said...

A store speciallized in buttons? That is really amazing!