Case and eyeglasses
1820–1850
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Sarah Cooper Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-6-9-a,b
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of 19th American fashion with *Case and Eyeglasses a delicate artifact from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection of costume and accessories. Dating to 1820–1850, this captures the elegance of the early antebellum era, when personal accessories like eyeglasses transitioned from medical necessities to stylish statements of sophistication. Worn by the emerging middle and upper classes, such items blended functionality with subtle ornamentation, reflecting growing access to optical technology amid industrialization. Though the artist and medium remain under research—part of the museum's ongoing scholarly efforts—this object's survival offers a window into everyday luxury. Eyeglass cases, often crafted from leather, fabric, or metal, protected these precious aids while signaling social status, much like today's designer accessories. Its classification highlights how museums preserve not just paintings, but the intimate tools of daily life that shaped personal identity. Generously bequeathed by Sarah Cooper Hewitt, a key figure in American arts patronage, this item joins the Smithsonian's rich trove of cultural artifacts. It invites us to ponder how small objects carried big stories of innovation, vanity, and heritage in a young nation. (198 words)
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...