Tile wall facing
ca. 1725
Classification
tiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of William Randolph Hearst
Accession Number
1926-43-4-486
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, where we invite you to explore the intriguing "Tile Wall Facing," a captivating architectural element dated around 1725. Crafted by an unknown artist, this piece belongs to the museum's tile collection and was generously gifted by William Randolph Hearst, the famed newspaper magnate and avid collector of historical treasures. Though research is ongoing, its classification as a tile wall facing hints at its original role in adorning interiors, perhaps chimneys, fireplaces, or room panels in early 18th-century buildings. In the colonial era of the...
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...