Wall facing
ca. 1725
Classification
tiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of William Randolph Hearst
Accession Number
1926-43-7-e-16
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
### Wall Facing, ca. 1725 Step into the colonial era with *Wall Facing*, a striking ensemble of tiles from around 1725, now gracing the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Created by an unknown artist, artwork—classified simply as "tiles"—serves as a wall decoration, hinting at the ornate interiors of early 18th-century life. Its exact medium remains under study, but such pieces were essential for adding durable, colorful accents to homes and buildings. In the 1720s, amid America's colonial growth, tiles like these transformed plain walls into vibrant statements. Often fired clay or ceramic, th...
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...