Button
19th century
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-59-171-a
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Museum's collection of costume and accessories, this unassuming 19th-centuryButton* offers a glimpse into the everyday artistry of American life. Classified as a humble yet essential wardrobe element, it exemplifies how ordinary objects from the Victorian era captured the ingenuity of craftsmanship during a time of rapid industrialization and evolving fashion trends. Though the artist's identity and precise medium remain under research, buttons like this one were pivotal in the decorative evolution of clothing. In the 1800s, they transitioned from functiona...
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...