Button
1824–40
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-59-48-a,d
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This unassuming yet intriguing *Button* from 1824–40 offers a glimpse into everyday American life during the early 19th century. Crafted as a costume accessory during a time of rapid industrialization and expanding fashion trends in the United States, it exemplifies the small, functional objects that adorned clothing for both men and women. Buttons like this one were essential to garments, evolving from simple fasteners to decorative elements that reflected personal style and social standing. Though the artist remains unknown and research is ongoing, its classification within the Smithsonian ...
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...