Textile
ca. 1850
Classification
printed, dyed & painted textiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase from Au Panier Fleuri Fund
Accession Number
1960-55-2-a,b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This captivating *Textile* from around 1850 exemplifies the artistry of printed, dyed, and painted fabrics during a transformative era in American design. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Smithsonian Collection, it was acquired through the Au Panier Fleuri Fund highlighting its value to curators. Though the artist and exact medium remain unknown— with research ongoing—this piece reflects the mid-19th-century boom in textile production, fueled by industrialization and expanding trade. In the 1850s, American textiles often blended European influences with homegrown motifs, showca...
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...