Button
19th century
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-59-153
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, unassuming 19th-centuryButton* belongs to the Costume & Accessories department, offering glimpse into everyday life from a transformative era. Classified as a humble fastening device, it exemplifies how ordinary objects can preserve slices of history, reflecting the fashion and craftsmanship of the time when buttons evolved from handmade luxuries to mass-produced essentials amid the Industrial Revolution. Though the artist and medium remain unidentified— with research still underway—this artifact highlights the cultural role of butt...
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...