Carpet bag
1860â69
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mary M. Kenway from the estate of Sarah B. Russell
Accession Number
1956-181-365
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the mid-19th century with intriguing *Carpet Bag* from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection of costumes and accessories. Dating to the 1860s—a decade bookended by the eve of the Civil War and the turbulent years of Reconstruction—this unassuming travel accessory exemplifies everyday American ingenuity. Crafted during an era of rapid westward expansion, urbanization and mass migration, carpet bags were practical essentials for wanderers, peddlers, and pioneers, often fashioned from durable offcuts of factory-woven carpets. Though the artist and exact medium remain under r...
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...