Pair of Side Chairs
ca. 1780
Medium
furniture
Classification
furniture
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Mrs. John Innes Kane
Accession Number
1926-22-60-a,b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
### Pair of Side Chairs, ca. 1780 Step into the elegant world of late 18th-century American homes with this exquisite pair of side chairs, crafted around 1780. These chairs, typical of the period's furniture, would have graced dining rooms or parlors, offering both comfort and a statement of refined taste. Made during the early years of the newly independent United States, they reflect the transition from Colonial craftsmanship to the emerging Federal style, influenced by neoclassical ideals of symmetry and proportion inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. Though the artist's identity remains ...
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...