Panel
ca. 1725
Medium
tiles
Classification
tiles
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of William Randolph Hearst
Accession Number
1941-76-1-r
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant tile panel, dating to around 1725, exemplifies early 18th-century decorative arts in the American colonies. Crafted from ceramic tiles—a medium prized for its durability and vibrant glazes—the panel likely served as a focal point in a grand interior, such as a fireplace surround or wall feature. During this period, tilework was a luxury import or local adaptation, blending European influences like English delftware or Dutch designs with emerging American craftsmanship, adorning homes of the prosperous elite. Though the artist remains unknown, the panel's presence in the Smithsoni...
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...