Button
late 18th century
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1925-2-21-b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This modest "Button," dating to the late 18 century, is a charming survivor from the world of everyday fashion, preserved in the Smithsonian American Art's collection of costume and. Donated by collectors Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt, exemplifies how small personal items can illuminate broader historical narratives. Currently marked as "Research in Progress it awaits deeper study to uncover its precise origins and story. In the late 1700s, amid America's Revolutionary era and the shift toward Neoclassical styles, buttons played a key role in clothing design. No longer just functional fasteners, t...
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...