Watch chain
mid-19th century
Classification
jewelry
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Gustav E. Kissel
Accession Number
1928-5-61
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's jewelry collection, this elegant *Watch Chain* hails from the mid-19th century, a when pocket watches were essential accessories for gentlemen navigating America's burgeoning industrial age. Crafted during the Victorian era's fascination with intricate personal adornments, such chains served both practical and symbolic purposes—securing timepieces while signaling status, punctuality, and refined taste amid rapid social change. Though the artist and exact medium remain unidentified, with research ongoing, the piece exemplifies the era's jewelry ...
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...