Waistcoat fronts
1730â40
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Richard Cranch Greenleaf in memory of his mother, Adeline Emma Greenleaf
Accession Number
1962-54-5-a,b
About this artwork
Two waistcoat fronts with a dense, large-scale floral border ornamenting the center front and lower edges and waistline. Embroidered in 13 colors of silk chenille, 4 metallic yarns, 2 silk yarns plied with metal, strips of flat metal and coils of wire couched on a brilliant yellow silk foundation.
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...