Button
1878–1914
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-59-21
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This modest yet intriguing *Button*, dated between 1878 and1914, hails from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection of costume and accessories. Crafted during America's Gilded Age through the Progressive Era, it represents everyday objects that bridged functionality and fashion in a rapidly industrializing society. Buttons like this were essential fasteners on garments, evolving from simple bone or wood pieces to more ornate designs reflecting social status and personal style. Though the artist and medium remain unknown— with research ongoing—this artifact highlights the artistry in ...
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...