Cover
late 18thâmid-19th century
Medium
containers
Classification
containers
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of the C. Helme and Alice B. Strater Collection
Accession Number
1976-1-97-a,b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This enigmatic artwork, simply titled *Cover*, hails from the late th to mid-19 century and is classified as container component within the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection Donated as part of the C. Helme and Alice. Strater Collection, exemplifies everyday objects elevated to art through craftsmanship. With its artist unknown and research ongoing, the piece invites visitors to ponder its origins—likely a functional lid or top for a household vessel, reflecting the practical ingenuity of American makers during a transformative era. Spanning the Federal and early antebellum periods,...
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...