Samples
ca. 1850
Classification
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Montgomery Hare
Accession Number
1936-51-3
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Samples**, ca. 1850, offers a fascinating glimpse into mid-19th-century American production, a time when the Industrial Revolution transformed fabric-making from handmade crafts to vibrant, mass-produced goods. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Smithsonian Collection, this piece—classified as printed, dyed, painted textiles—was generously gifted by Mrs. Montgomery Hare. "samples," it likely consists of swatches showcasing experimental or commercial patterns, reflecting the era's booming textile mills in places like New England, where innovation drove fashion, home décor, and ex...
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...