Button

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

This unassuming yet captivating "Button" from the late 18th century offers a glimpse into everyday elegance during America's formative years. Classified as a costume accessory and housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, it was generously gifted by collectors Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt. With its artist unknown and research still underway, the piece invites us to ponder the artistry hidden in the smallest details of historical attire. In the late 1700s, buttons like this one were far more than functional fasteners—they were miniature canvases for craftsmanship, often adorning coats, waistcoats, and gowns to signal social status or regional style. Made during a time of revolutionary change in the young United States, such accessories reflected the blend of European influences and emerging American ingenuity, using materials like metal, fabric, or shell to create subtle luxury. Today, this button stands as a testament to the Hewitt sisters' passion for preserving design history. As ongoing research uncovers more, it reminds museum visitors that even the tiniest artifacts can unlock stories of fashion, culture, and daily life from two centuries past.

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...