cricket cage and base
late 19th century
Classification
containers
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1916-40-3-a,b
About this artwork
Upright rectangular cage (a) with two parallels and concealed door; attached by small brads to black lacquered wood base (b) with cabriole legs set at angles. Inside cage, imitation black beetle and winged insect (dragon fly?) attached to bars.
Art Historical Context
This delicate cricket cage and its elegant base, dating to the late 19th century exemplifies the intricate craftsmanship of decorative containers from that era. The upright rectangular cage features parallel bars and a cleverly concealed door, secured by brads to a blackquered wood base with gracefully angled cabriole legs nod to rococo influences that lingered into the Victorian period. Inside, imitation insects—a black beetle and a dragonfly—are artfully attached to the bars transforming the piece from a functional vessel into a whimsical display object. Cricket cages like this originated i...
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...