Design for a Wrought Iron Light Fixture
January 30, 1894
Classification
appliances & tools
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Cooper Union Art School
Accession Number
1953-31-2
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Mary Morison Brownson's *Design for a Wrought Iron Light Fixture*, dated January 30, 1894, offers a glimpse into late 19th-century American design ingenuity. As an American artist associated with the prestigious Cooper Union Art School in New York, Brownson created this conceptual drawing for a functional yet ornate lighting element. Wrought iron, prized for its malleability and durability, was a favored material in the era's decorative arts, bridging utilitarian objects with artistic expression amid the rise of electricity and gas lighting. This piece reflects the educational ethos of Cooper...