Floor tile
14th century
Classification
ceramics
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase from Au Panier Fleuri Fund
Accession Number
1955-144-1
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This unassuming 14th-century tile, crafted from ceramics, offers a tangible glimpse into medieval daily life and craftsmanship. Acquired through the Smithsonian's Au Panier Fleuri Fund housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection, it exemplifies the durable, utilitarian art form that adorned floors in homes, churches, and public spaces across Europe during the late Middle Ages. Though the specific artist and exact medium details remain under research, its classification as ceramics highlights the era's advancements in clay molding, firing techniques, and possibly glazing, which all...
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...