Chopsticks, knife and case
mid-19th century
Classification
cutlery
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of the Estate of Harrison Salisbury
Accession Number
1995-173-3-a/e
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This intriguing set of *Chopsticks, knife and case* from the mid-19th offers a glimpse into everyday life during a transformative era of global exchange. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Smithsonian and classified as cutlery, this ensemble blends Eastern and Western utensils—a pair of chopsticks alongside a knife, neatly contained in a protective case. Such portable dining tools reflect the practical needs of travelers, merchants, or immigrants navigating expanding trade routes between Asia and the West, including America's growing ports during the California Gold Rush and Opium...
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...