Button
late 18th century
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1925-2-16-a
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection costume and accessories, thisassuming *Button* h from the late 18th—a pivotal era bridging the American Revolution and the nation's early years. As a functional yet potentially decorative garment fastener, it offers a glimpse into everyday fashion of the time, when buttons adorned coats, waistcoats, and dresses, often signaling social status or craftsmanship amid rapid societal changes. Though the artist and medium remain unidentified amid ongoing research, such artifacts highlight the artistry in utilitarian objects. Late 18th-centu...
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...