Button
19th century
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-59-516-a
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection costume and accessories, this unassuming 19th-century offers a glimpse into everyday Victorian life. Dating from a transformative era of industrialization and fashion innovation, buttons like this one were far more than functional fasteners—they were miniature canvases for personal expression, adorning garments from elegant gowns to utilitarian workwear. Produced in an age when mass manufacturing met artisanal craft, such items highlight the democratization of style, making decorative flair accessible beyond the elite. Though the art...
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...