Cuff Buttons 1935 - 1942

Frank Fumagalli made this design for cuff buttons at an unknown date with watercolor and graphite on paper. The tortoiseshell effect with its fiery hues is just gorgeous! You can almost see Fumagalli carefully layering the washes of color, coaxing out the subtle variations in tone to mimic that natural, translucent quality. And then, that Greek key pattern edging the design? It's a classic touch, like a nod to history, yet rendered with such precision that it feels utterly contemporary. I wonder if Fumagalli was thinking about the weight of tradition versus the lightness of invention when he drew this. The “P” monogram adds such a personal element, doesn’t it? A touch of individuality in something so ubiquitous. It reminds me that even the most functional objects can be a canvas for self-expression, a quiet statement in a world that’s constantly clamoring for attention.