Button
late 19th–early 20th century
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Julia Hutchins Wolcott
Accession Number
1959-66-306-b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This unassuming yet intriguing "Button" from the late 19th to early 20th century a glimpse into everyday fashion from America's Gilded Age and Progressive Era. Classified as a costume accessory and housed in the Smithsonian American Museum's collection, it arrived via the generous bequest of Julia Hutch Wolcott. While research on this piece is ongoing, buttons like this were essential fasteners in clothing, often elevated to miniature works of art through intricate designs and materials. During this transitional period, buttons reflected evolving tastes in personal adornment. Victorians favor...
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...