Jug
1849
Medium
ceramics
Classification
ceramics
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Stephen Parks
Accession Number
2006-32-5
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This unassuming yet evocative jug, crafted in 1849 by an unknown artist, exemplifies the everyday artistry of mid-19th-century American ceramics. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum as part of the Smithsonian Collection—thanks to the generous gift of Stephen Parks—it represents the utilitarian pottery that was a cornerstone of American domestic life during the antebellum era. Jugs like this were essential for storing and pouring liquids, from water to spirits, reflecting the practical ingenuity of potters working in regional kilns across the young nation. Made of ceramics, likely st...
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...