Button
19th century
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-59-123
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
### A 19th-Century Mystery: The "Button" Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection of costume and accessories, this unassuming "Button" from the 19th century us to ponder the everyday artistry of America's past. Classified within the Smithsonian Collection, its exact origins remain shrouded in mystery—artist unknown, with research still in progress. Yet, as a humble fastener, it embodies the ingenuity of 19th-century craftsmanship, where even small objects blended utility with subtle decoration. In the Victorian era, buttons like this one were far more than functional; they a...
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...