Card case
1870â80
Classification
containers
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Maxime Hermanos
Accession Number
1966-6-16-a,b
About this artwork
A silver card case covered in a floral arrangement. Flower petals and selected leaves accented with blue, purple and green enamel.
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver card case, dating from 1870–80, exemplifies the ornate craftsmanship of the late Victorian era. Adorned with a lush floral arrangement, its surface features flower petals and select leaves highlighted in vibrant blue, purple, and green, creating a jewel-like sparkle against the gleaming silver ground. Compact and elegant, such cases were essential accessories for gentlemen and ladies, designed to hold cards—a key social ritual for announcing visits in polite 19th-century society. enameling technique, likely cloisonné or champlevé, involved fusing powdered glass colors o...
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...