Bag
early 19th century
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of the estate of Mrs. Lathrop Colgate Harper
Accession Number
1957-180-15
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant "Bag" from the early 19th century invites visitors to step into the world of American fashion history at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Classified within the Costume & Accessories department, it hails from the Smithsonian Collection and was generously gifted by the estate of Mrs. Lathrop Colgate Harper. Though the artist and medium remain unidentified— with research still in progress—this accessory whispers tales of daily life in a transformative era of American style. Dating to the early 1800s, a time when the young United States was embracing neoclassical influences and e...
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...