Button
ca. 1880
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Jennie M. Clow
Accession Number
1943-4-3-d
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled among the grand paintings and sculptures of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, thisassuming "Button" from circa 1880 offers a charming glimpse into everyday Victorian life. Crafted as a costume accessory during the Gilded Age, when American fashion emphasized elaborate details on women's dresses and outerwear, buttons like this one served both practical and decorative purposes. Donated by Jennie M. Clow, it entered the Smithsonian's collection, preserving a slice of 19th-century material cultureThough the artist remains unknown—typical for functional objects produced in workshops—thi...
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...