Tray
ca. 1820
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Talbot Jones Taylor
Accession Number
1912-18-25
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant tray, crafted around 1820 by an unknown artisan, exemplifies the refined metalwork of early 19th-century America. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Smithsonian Collection it was generously gifted by Mr. and. Talbot Jones Taylor. a functional yet decorative object, such trays were essential in households, often used for serving tea, beverages, or small delicacies during social gatherings—a nod to the growing sophistication of American domestic life post-Revolution. Metalwork from this era highlights the skill of anonymous craftsmen who blended European influences wit...
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...