Frame

Art Historical Context

This elegant frame, created by the United States Pottery Company between 1853 and 1858, offers a charming glimpse into mid-nineteenth-century American decorative arts. Crafted from mottled brown earthenware and measuring just 6 5/8 by 7 1/2 inches, the piece was likely designed to display a small photograph, print, or mirror. Its compact size and rich, variegated glaze suggest it was intended as both a functional object and a subtle statement of taste for the American home. Earthenware, fired at lower temperatures than porcelain, allowed potters to experiment with lively surface effects like the mottled brown tones seen here. During this period, American manufacturers were working to establish a distinct national style while meeting the growing demand for affordable, attractive household goods. The United States Pottery Company contributed to this effort by producing items that blended utility with artistic flair. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s American Wing, the frame was acquired in 1914 through the Rogers Fund. It reminds visitors how everyday objects of the Victorian era could carry quiet beauty and cultural significance, reflecting both technical skill and the era’s appreciation for ornament in daily life.