Teapot
ca. 1838
Medium
metalwork
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Arthur Ross
Accession Number
1980-76-1
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant teapot, crafted around 1838, exemplifies the artistry of early 19th-century American metalwork. Housed in the Smithsonian American Museum as part of the Smithsonian Collection, it was generously donated by Arthur Ross. With its artist unknown and research ongoing, the piece invites us to appreciate the skilled, anonymous craftsmen who produced functional yet beautiful household objects during a time of growing industrial innovation in the United States. Dating to the antebellum era, this metalwork teapot reflects the cultural prominence of tea drinking in American homes, where su...
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...