staircase model
early 19th century
Classification
models and prototypes
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw
Accession Number
2007-45-12
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection this *Staircase Model* hails from the renowned Sèvres Porcelain Manactory in France, established in 1756 and celebrated for its exquisite porcelain wares favored by royalty and nobility. Crafted in the early 19th century—a time of grand architectural revival during the Napoleonic era and Bourbon Restoration—this delicate prototype captures the era's fascination with neoclassical opulence. Donated by collectors Eugene V. and Clare. Thaw, it Sèvres' mastery in producing intricate, functional art. As a model and prototype, this piece li...