Purse
1860â1910
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Harvey Smith
Accession Number
1968-135-43
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant purse, dating from 1860 to 1910, offers a into the everyday artistry of American fashion during a transformative era. Spanning the late Victorian period through the Edwardian age, it belongs to the Smithsonian American Art's collection of costume and accessories, highlighting how personal items like handbags reflected social customs, women's roles, and emerging industrial influences in the United States. Though the artist and medium remain under active research, the purse's classification underscores its role as a functional yet decorative accessory. In an age of rapid urbanizati...
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...