Handscreen
late 18thâearly 19th century
Medium
costume & accessories
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1925-1-54
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Handscreen** *Late 18th–early 19th century* *Unknown artist*Costume & accessories Smithsonian American Art Museum into the elegant world of late 18- and early 19th-century with this intriguing *Handscreen*, a delicate accessory from the Smithsonian American Museum's Costume & Accessories collection. Dating to the transition from the Georgian era to the early Federal period in America, handscreens were essential items for refined women, often used to shield the face from the heat of open fires, direct sunlight, or even as a subtle tool for social modesty and flirtation during gather...
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...