Console table
ca. 1740
Medium
furniture
Classification
furniture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1971-60-1-a,b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant console table, dating to around 1740, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of colonial American furniture during the early 18th century. Produced in an era when the American colonies were increasingly influenced by European tastes—particularly British Georgian styles—such pieces were essential furnishings in prosperous homes. Console tables like this one, typically narrow and wall-mounted, served both practical and decorative purposes, often supporting marble tops, mirrors, or decorative objects to enhance the grandeur of entryways or salons. As a prime example of period furnitu...
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...