Button
ca. 1801–50
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-59-191-b/f
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection costume and accessories, this unassuming *Button* dates to circa 180150, a period bridging the early American Republic and the antebellum era. Crafted by an unknown maker, it exemplifies the everyday artifacts that reveal the textures of 19th-century life. During this time, the United States was rapidly industrializing, and personal adornments like buttons transitioned from handmade luxuries to more accessible items, reflecting growing trade and manufacturing. Though its exact medium remains under research, buttons from this era were...
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...