Button
late 18th century
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1921-22-64
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This unassuming yet fascinating "Button" from the 18th century offers a glimpse into everyday artistry from a pivotal era. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Department of Costume & Accessories, entered the collection as a gift from Eleanor Sarah Hewitt, prominent collectors whose donations enriched American cultural heritage. With its artist unknown and research ongoing, the piece invites us to appreciate the subtle craftsmanship of functional objects. In the late 1700s, buttons like this one were more than mere fasteners—they embodied the evolving fashions of the Enlightenment ...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...