Designs for Mechanical Furniture: Bidet and Reading Washstand
ca. 1805
Classification
furniture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1911-28-474
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the innovative world of early 19th-century design with *Designs for Mechanical Furniture Bidet and Reading Wash*, created around 1805. This set of designs, now housed in the Smithsonian American Museum's Smithsonian Collection, the clever fusion of functionality and ingenuity in furniture. Classified as furniture, these plans depict a bidet—a personal hygiene fixture—and a "reading washstand," likely a multifunctional piece that combined washing utilities with a reading surface, reflecting the era's push for space-saving, versatile home furnishings. Dating to circa 1805, the work em...
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...