Case for Traveling Cutlery
second half 18th century
Medium
cutlery
Classification
cutlery
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg
Accession Number
1985-103-269
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of 18th travel with the *Case for Traveling Cutlery a practical yet elegant artifact from the second half the 1700s. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum as part of The Robert L. Metzen Collection (gift of Eleanor L. Metberg), this unassuming object reveals the ingenuity of everyday life during an era of expanding exploration and commerce. With research ongoing, it stands as a testament to the craftsmanship of anonymous makers who blended utility with subtle artistry. In the late 18th century, as stagecoaches crisscrossed Europe and America, genteel travel...
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...