Button

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 1871–1914 offers a tangible glimpse into everyday American life during a transformative era. Created by an unknown maker, it falls within the late 19th and early 20th centuries—a period spanning the Gilded Age's opulence, industrialization, and the dawn of modern fashion. As part of the broader "costume & accessories" classification such items were essential to personal adornment, blending functionality with subtle artistry. Buttons like this one were far more than fasteners; 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...