Collection Highlights
Broadway, A.T. Stewart Dry Goods Store
Date:
1851
Object Number:
PR.020.FF.28
Medium:
1896 photo-mechanical color reproduction of an engraving
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
Belt and buckle
Object Number:
2001.34ab
Date:
ca. 1934
Medium:
Silver, leather
Dimensions:
Part (belt): 34 x 1 in. (86.4 x 2.5 cm)
Part (buckle): 1 1/4 x 2 in. (3.2 x 5.1 cm)
Marks:
impressed: on back of button: "LEONORE DOSKOW/HANDMADE STERLING"
Description:
Silver belt buckle with black leather belt; open rectangular buckle has cut-out letter "O" on top of "M" on left side and pivoting tongue on right side; leather belt has two snaps to hold buckle in place and is punched with five holes.
Gallery Label:
This belt and buckle, featuring the initials "O M," were made around 1934 for New York gangster Owen Vincent (Owney) Madden (1892-1965). Madden, a notorious racketeer, was born in the slums of Liverpool, came to New York City when he was 11, and grew up in Hell's Kitchen. During his heyday, Madden owned nightclubs (including the Cotton Club), prizefighters, hotels, slot machines, lottery games and operated a coal company and a laundry in Brooklyn. The donor was a personal friend of Madden's.
Credit Line:
Gift of Martha Heinemann
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
