Design for a Dish Stand with Extending Arms and a Small Spirit Lamp
Medium
metalwork
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1911-28-347
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Created around 1800 by the German metalworker Joseph Anton Seethaler II (9–1868), *Design for a Dish Stand Extending Arms and a Small Lamp* showcases the ingenuity of early 19-century European craftsmanship. Seethaler, part of a lineage of skilled artisans, drafted this functional yet elegant piece during a time when neoclassical influences blended with practical innovation in metalwork. The design features adjustable extending arms to hold dishes securely and a compact spirit lamp beneath for gentle warming—a clever solution for dinner tables in grand households. This metalwork concept highl...