vase
ca. 1878
Classification
glasswares
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of James Ford
Accession Number
1920-8-13-a,b
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant vase, dating to around 1878, exemplifies the refined glasswares produced during America's Gilded Age, a period of industrial innovation and artistic experimentation in decorative arts. Though the artist remains unknown, its presence in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection highlights the era's fascination with functional yet beautiful household objects. Crafted in an unspecified glass medium, it likely reflects techniques like blown or molded glass common in late 19th-century American factories, where artisans blended utility with ornamental flair. Donated as a gift fr...
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...