Frame
ca. 1850
Classification
woodwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. James O. Green and Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1921-17-18
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant **Frame**, dating to around 1850, exemplifies the refined woodwork of mid-19th-century America. Classified within the Smithsonian Collection at the Smithsonian American Art Museum it highlights the era's decorative arts tradition, where frames were not mere supports but integral artworks that enhanced paintings and mirrors. Crafted likely from wood—though specifics await further research—this piece reflects the skilled joinery and ornamental techniques prevalent in Victorian-influenced households and public spaces. In the 1850s, as America industrialized, such frames embodied a b...
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...