Button
19th century
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-59-185-a
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection costume and accessories, this unassuming 19th *Button* offers a glimpse into everyday artistry from America's past. Created by an unknown maker, it exemplifies the functional yet decorative objects that adorned clothing during a transformative era of industrialization and fashion evolution. Currently under research, it invites visitors to ponder the stories embedded in such small artifacts. In the 19th century buttons transcended mere utility, becoming miniature canvases for craftsmanship. Often crafted from materials like metal, bon...
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...