Buttons
late 18th century
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-59-222-a/c,e
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
### Buttons *Late 18th century* *Unknown artist* *Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt* Step into the elegant world of late 18th-century fashion with these intriguing *Buttons*, small yet significant artifacts from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection of costume and accessories. Crafted during a transformative era—the waning years of the Enlightenment and the American Revolution—these buttons reflect the period's blend of functionality and ornamentation. As everyday garments grew more refined, buttons evolved from simple fasteners into decorative s...
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...