Fishing motif
patented 1871
Classification
containers
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Stephen W. Brener and Carol B. Brener
Accession Number
1980-14-488
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 19th-century American design with *Fishing Motif*, a captivating container patented in 1871 now housed in the Smithsonian American Museum's collection. Though the artist remains unknown and research is ongoing, this piece exemplifies the era's inventive spirit, when design patents protected decorative objects for everyday use. Classified simply as a "container," likely served a practical purpose—perhaps for storage or display—adorned with motifs celebrating fishing, a popular pastime reflecting America's growing leisure culture amid post-Civil War prosperity. The 1871 p...
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...