Button
19th century
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-59-249-c
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Museum's collection of costume and accessories, this unassuming 19th-centuryButton* offers a glimpse into everyday American life. Classified among personal adornments, it exemplifies the small yet essential objects that fastened clothing during an era of rapid industrialization and evolving fashion. Produced in the 1800s, when buttons transitioned from handmade crafts to mass-produced items, this piece reflects the ingenuity of American material culture. Though the artist and medium remain unidentified—part of ongoing research—this button's presence in the ...
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...