Button
late 18th century
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-59-219-b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This unassuming yet intriguing *Button* from the late18th century offers a glimpse into everyday life during America's formative years. Housed in the Smithsonian American Museum's Department of Costume & Accessories, exemplifies the small artifacts that reveal big stories about fashion, craftsmanship, and culture. Classified as part of the Smithsonian Collection, ongoing research continues to uncover its precise origins, highlighting how museums preserve even the humblest objects for future discovery. In the late 1700s, buttons were far more than fasteners—they were status symbols and artisti...
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...