Plate
ca 1760
Classification
ceramics
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw
Accession Number
2017-20-12
About this artwork
Circular plate with scalloped edge; pale green floral decoration around perimeter, fauna and figure in center.
Art Historical Context
This elegant circular plate, dating to around 1760, exemplifies 18th-century ceramic artistry with its delicate scalloped edge and pale green floral motifs encircling the rim. At the center, a lively scene features fauna and a human figure, inviting viewers to ponder the narrative unfolding amid nature's bounty. Though the artist remains unknown and the exact medium unspecified, its classification as ceramics highlights the era's mastery of durable yet refined tableware, often produced in workshops blending functionality with ornamental flair. Crafted during the colonial American period, this...
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...