Candlestick
ca. 1830
Medium
metalwork
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Talbot Jones Taylor
Accession Number
1912-18-12-a
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant candlestick, crafted around 1830 by an unknown, exemplifies the artistry of early 19th-century American metalwork. As a functional household object, it would have provided essential illumination in homes before the widespread adoption of gas or electric lighting. Metalwork from this era often involved skilled techniques like casting, hammering, or engraving, transforming everyday necessities into durable, sometimes ornate pieces that reflected a growing American craft tradition amid the Industrial Revolution. Dating to the 1830s—a time of rapid social and economic change in the U...
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...