Sewing box with implements
ca. 1850
Classification
containers
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Mrs. John Innes Kane
Accession Number
1926-22-16-a/j
About this artwork
Elaborately contoured square box with stepped, slightly domed, hinged lid with scalloped edges; stepped, scalloped base with four broad feet; the black lacquer ground with overall floral and foliate decoration of mother-of-pearl inlay, gilding and touches of paint; lid with scene of large church in landscape, "Melrose Abbey" in small letters painted under scene; lid opens over compartmented top section; double doors in front open to reveal four drawers, the bottom one designed like a lap desk wi...
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...