Design for an Urn on a Stand with a Spirit Lamp
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1911-28-320
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Joseph Anton Seethaler II created this detailed design drawing in 1825, capturing an elegant urn mounted on a stand and fitted with a spirit lamp. As a German artist working in the early nineteenth century, Seethaler specialized in ornamental designs that blended utility with refined decoration. The drawing’s careful lines and balanced proportions suggest it was intended as a working study for a metalworker or manufacturer. The inclusion of a spirit lamp indicates the piece was meant for practical use, perhaps to gently heat liquids or provide subtle illumination. Such objects reflect the per...