Brooch
1800-1825
Medium
Decorative Arts-Jewelry
Classification
Decorative Arts-Jewelry
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Laura Dreyfus Barney and Natalie Clifford Barney in memory of their mother, Alice Pike Barney
Accession Number
1964.25.3
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant brooch, crafted between 1800 and 1825, exemplifies the refined jewelry of early 19th-century America during the Federal period. As a piece of decorative arts, it highlights the era's emphasis on delicate adornments that complemented neoclassical fashions—think high-waisted gowns and empire silhouettes. Brooches like this served both practical and symbolic purposes, often pinned to shawls or bodices as statements of taste, sentiment, or status. Though the artist's identity remains unknown, the object's survival speaks to the skilled metalworking and gem-setting techniques prevalent...
About the Artist
Unidentified ( ) · –