Tile
ca. 1725
Medium
tiles
Classification
tiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of William Randolph Hearst
Accession Number
1941-76-1-fff
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant tile, dating to around 1725, exemplifies 18th-century decorative from the colonial period. Crafted as part of a larger medium of ceramic tiles, it likely adorned fireplaces, hearths, or architectural interiors in American homes, where such pieces served both functional and ornamental purposes. Imported from European centers like England or the Netherlands—or possibly produced locally—these tiles were prized status symbols, blending practicality with artistry in an era when households sought to evoke Old World sophistication amid New World frontiers. Its presence in the Smithsonia...
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...