Etui
1750-1800
Medium
Decorative Arts
Classification
Decorative Arts
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly
Accession Number
1929.8.245.62
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection of decorative arts, this *Etui* from 1750-1800 exemplifies the exquisite craftsmanship of late colonial and early federal America. An etui is a small, portable case designed to hold personal essentials like sewing needles, toiletries, or writing implements—practical yet elegant accessories prized by women of the era. Gifted by collector John Gellatly, this unidentified piece highlights the anonymous artisans whose skilled hands produced objects blending utility with refinement. In the 18th century, etuis were more than mere container...
About the Artist
Unidentified ( ) · –