Button
19th century
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-59-203
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection of costume and accessories, this unassuming 19th-century button offers a glimpse into everyday American life. Produced during an era of rapid industrialization and evolving fashion, buttons like this one were essential fasteners on garments, transitioning from handmade crafts to mass-produced items. Though its exact medium remains unidentified amid ongoing research, it exemplifies how ordinary objects captured the ingenuity of the time. In the 19th century, buttons transcended utility, becoming canvases for personal expression and so...
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...