Button
1801–50
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-59-134
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This modest yet evocative "Button," dating from 1801–50, belongs to the American Art Museum's collection costume and accessories. Crafted by an unknown maker during the early decades of the 19th century, it exemplifies the everyday artifacts that illuminate American life in the young republic. Though research is ongoing, its presence in the museum underscores how even the smallest objects can capture the ingenuity of a burgeoning nation. In the early 1800s, buttons were far more than fasteners—they were key elements of personal style and social expression. Worn on everything from coats and ve...
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...