Design for a Sofa
ca. 1800
Medium
furniture
Classification
furniture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund
Accession Number
1938-88-579
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Design for a Sofa (ca. 1800)** This intriguing *Design for a Sofa*, around 1800 by an unknown artist, offers a glimpse into early American furniture aesthetics. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection—acquired through museum purchase and the generosity of donors including the Eleanor G. Hewitt—this work is classified as furniture design. Likely a drawing or sketch, it captures the creative process behind upholstered seating at the dawn of the 19th century, a time when American homes were evolving to reflect newfound national identity and prosperity. In the Federal era, ...
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...