Button
late 18thâearly 19th century
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-59-499
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection costume and accessories, this unassuming button from the late 18th to 19th century offers a glimpse into everyday life during America's early Federal period. Donated by Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt, it the subtle artistry of personal adornment in a time of national transformation, following the Revolutionary War and amid growing influences from European neoclassicism. Buttons like this were essential fasteners on garments, blending utility with quiet elegance. Though the artist remains unknown and research is ongoing, such accessories hi...
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...