Button
18th century
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Julia Hutchins Wolcott
Accession Number
1959-66-53
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection of and accessories, this unassuming 18th-century offers a glimpse into the everyday elegance of colonial America. Dating from the 1700s—a pivotal era spanning the Enlightenment, the American Revolution, and early national identity—such fasteners were more than functional. They adorned garments like waistcoats, breeches, and gowns, often crafted with intricate designs that reflected social status, craftsmanship, and emerging tastes influenced by European imports and local ingenuity. Though the artist and medium remain unidentified ami...
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...