Button
late 18th century
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1931-59-219-d
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 18th-century fashion with this intriguing *Button* from the Smithsonian American Art's collection of costume and accessories. Dating to the late 1700s—a time of revolutionary change in America—this unassuming artifact hails from an era when everyday objects like buttons bridged utility and artistry. Produced during the post-Revolutionary period, it reflects the craftsmanship of a burgeoning nation, where personal adornment signaled social status, trade connections, and emerging national identity. Though the artist remains unknown and research is ongoing, buttons like th...
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...