Mount
early 19th century
Medium
metalwork
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Charles B. Alexander
Accession Number
1907-1-102
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection of metalwork, *Mount* is a captivating example of early 19th craftsmanship from an unknown artist. Dating to the Federal period in American history—a time of national expansion and neoclassical influences—this piece exemplifies the era's metalworking traditions. Likely a decorative fitting or mount for furniture, architecture, or equestrian use, it highlights the skilled techniques of silversmiths and coppersmiths who blended functionality with elegant design. Metalwork like this was central to American domestic and public life, ofte...
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...