Button
ca. 1890
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1940-25-14
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
### Button, ca. 1890 This unassuming yet intriguing "Button" from around 1890 offers a glimpse into the everyday artistry of late 19th-century American fashion Housed in the Smithsonian American Museum's collection of costume and accessories, it exemplifies how even small objects could embody craftsmanship and style during the Gilded Age. during a time of rapid industrialization, buttons like this transitioned from simple fasteners to decorative elements, often adorning garments with intricate designs that reflected personal taste and social status. In the 1890s, as women's fashion evolved w...
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...