Button
1875–1914
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-59-211
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection of costume and accessories, this intriguing artifact—simply titled *Button*—dates to the late 19th or early 20th century (1875–1914). Crafted during a transformative era in American fashion, when industrialization revolutionized clothing production, buttons like this one served as both functional fasteners and subtle expressions of style. Though the artist and medium remain unknown, its presence in the Smithsonian highlights how everyday objects from this Gilded Age to Progressive Era period offer glimpses into daily life, social cust...
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...