Button
1845–55
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-59-306-a
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This unassuming yet captivating *Button* from 1845–55 offers a glimpse into mid-19th-century American life, when even the smallest accessories played a role in personal style and functionality. Classified within the Smithsonian American Art Museum costume and accessories collection, it reflects the era's growing emphasis on decorative details in fashion, amid the industrial boom that made mass-produced fasteners more accessible. Donated by the esteemed collectors Eleanor and Sarah Hewittpioneering figures in preserving American decorative arts—this piece underscores how everyday objects captur...
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...