Calendar holder
ca. 1740
Medium
metalwork
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1909-25-8
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
In the mid-18th century, around 1740, American households relied on practical yet elegantly crafted objects like this *Calendar Holder* to organize daily life. Made of metalwork by an unknown artisan, it likely served as a functional stand or frame for displaying almanacs—essential printed calendars that provided farmers, merchants, and families with weather predictions, planting advice, and astronomical data. Acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum through the Advisory Council's purchase, this piece highlights the everyday artistry of colonial America, where utility met skilled crafts...
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...