Button
19th century
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-59-184-b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
### 19th-Century Button Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection costume and accessories, this intriguing th-century button stands as a small yet evocative artifact from everyday life. Classified under costume and accessories, it exemplifies how even the tiniest objects could carry profound cultural weight. With its artist unknown and research in progress, the button invites visitors to ponder the stories hidden in humble fasteners—perhaps once adorning a garment that witnessed the era's sweeping social changes. In the 19th century buttons evolved from mere utility to symb...
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...