Art

Panorama of the Army of the Cumberland

The National Museum of American History is not an art museum. But works of art fill its collections and testify to the vital place of art in everyday American life. The ceramics collections hold hundreds of examples of American and European art glass and pottery. Fashion sketches, illustrations, and prints are part of the costume collections. Donations from ethnic and cultural communities include many homemade religious ornaments, paintings, and figures. The Harry T Peters "America on Stone" collection alone comprises some 1,700 color prints of scenes from the 1800s. The National Quilt Collection is art on fabric. And the tools of artists and artisans are part of the Museum's collections, too, in the form of printing plates, woodblock tools, photographic equipment, and potters' stamps, kilns, and wheels.

Culture: Indians of North America

Engraved woodblock of a "Navajo Indian with silver ornaments"

This engraved woodblock of “Navajo Indian with silver ornaments" was prepared, after a photograph, by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Plate XX (p. 178) in an article by Dr.
Description
This engraved woodblock of “Navajo Indian with silver ornaments" was prepared, after a photograph, by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Plate XX (p. 178) in an article by Dr. Washington Matthews (1843-1905) entitled “Navajo Silversmiths” in the Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1880-81.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1883
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Matthews, Washington
block maker
J. J. & Co.
ID Number
1980.0219.0442
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0442

Engraved woodblock of a "Dipper - province of Tusayan"

This engraved woodblock of a “Dipper - province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 299 (p.327) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Pottery of the Ancient Pueblos” in the Fourth
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Dipper - province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 299 (p.327) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Pottery of the Ancient Pueblos” in the Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1882-83.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1886
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Holmes, William Henry
ID Number
1980.0219.1725
catalog number
1980.0219.1725
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of a "Handled cup, province of Tusayan"

This engraved woodblock of a “Handled Cup – Province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 297 (p.327) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Pottery of the Ancient Pueblos” in the Fo
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Handled Cup – Province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 297 (p.327) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Pottery of the Ancient Pueblos” in the Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1882-83.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1886
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Holmes, William Henry
ID Number
1980.0219.1796
catalog number
1980.0219.1796
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of the "Signal for 'buffalo discovered'"

This engraved woodblock of “Signal for ‘buffalo discovered’” was prepared by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 337 on page 532 in an article by Garrick Mallery (1831-1894) entitled “Sign Lang
Description
This engraved woodblock of “Signal for ‘buffalo discovered’” was prepared by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 337 on page 532 in an article by Garrick Mallery (1831-1894) entitled “Sign Language Among the North American Indians” in the First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1879-80.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
maker
Nichols, H. H.
author
Mallery, Garrick
ID Number
1980.0219.1523
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.1523

Engraved woodblock of a "Vase with animal heads"

This engraved woodblock of a “Vase with animal heads” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 137 (p.96) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Ancient Art of the Province of Chiriqui, Colombia” in
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Vase with animal heads” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 137 (p.96) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Ancient Art of the Province of Chiriqui, Colombia” in the Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1884-85.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1888
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Holmes, William Henry
ID Number
1980.0219.0896
catalog number
1980.0219.0896
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of a “Fault with thrown beds flexed upward”

This engraved woodblock of a “Fault with thrown beds flexed upward” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1875 as Figure 71 (p.184) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries.
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Fault with thrown beds flexed upward” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1875 as Figure 71 (p.184) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries. Explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution by John Wesley Powell (1834-1902).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1875
1875
printer
Government Printing Office
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
author
Powell, John Wesley
ID Number
1980.0219.0101
catalog number
1980.0219.0101
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of a "Bottle with geometric devices"

This engraved woodblock of a “Bottle with geometric devices” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 165 (p.116) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Ancient Art of the Province of Chiriqui, Colo
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Bottle with geometric devices” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 165 (p.116) in an article by William Henry Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Ancient Art of the Province of Chiriqui, Colombia” in the Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian,1884-85.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1888
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Holmes, William Henry
ID Number
1980.0219.0814
catalog number
1980.0219.0814
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of an "Indian Village"

This engraved woodblock of an “Indian Village” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published in 1875 as Figure 43 (p.119) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries.
Description
This engraved woodblock of an “Indian Village” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published in 1875 as Figure 43 (p.119) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries. Explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution by John Wesley Powell (1834-1902). The illustration was drawn by Thomas Moran, and engraved by John Minton (fl. 1875).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1875
1875
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Powell, John Wesley
original artist
Moran, Thomas
graphic artist
Minton, John
block maker
V. W. & Co.
ID Number
1980.0219.1424
catalog number
1980.0219.1424
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of a "Handled cup, province of Tusayan"

This engraved woodblock of a “Handled cup, Province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1886 as 298 (p.327) in an article by William H.
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Handled cup, Province of Tusayan” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1886 as 298 (p.327) in an article by William H. Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Pottery of the Ancient Pueblos” in the Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1882-83.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1886
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Holmes, William Henry
ID Number
1980.0219.0152
catalog number
1980.0219.0152
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of an American Indian board and wrapping for a baby

This engraved woodblock of an American Indian board and wrapping for a baby was printed and published by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. for the Bureau of American Ethnology about 1880.Currently not on view
Description
This engraved woodblock of an American Indian board and wrapping for a baby was printed and published by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. for the Bureau of American Ethnology about 1880.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
ID Number
1980.0219.0481
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0481

Engraved woodblock of a "Canoe burial"

This engraved woodblock of a “Canoe Burial” was prepared by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 23 on page 171 in an article by H.C.
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Canoe Burial” was prepared by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 23 on page 171 in an article by H.C. Yarrow (1871-1876) entitled “Mortuary Customs of North American Indians” in the First Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1879-80.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1881
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
graphic artist
Nichols, H. H.
author
Yarrow, Harry Crecy
block maker
Grottenthaler, V.
ID Number
1980.0219.1510
catalog number
1980.0219.1510
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock titled "Shell Gorget - The Cross"

This engraved woodblock of “Shell Gorgets – the Cross” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1883 as Plate LI.1 (p.268) in an article by William H.
Description
This engraved woodblock of “Shell Gorgets – the Cross” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1883 as Plate LI.1 (p.268) in an article by William H. Holmes (1846-1933) entitled “Art in Shell of the Ancient Americans” in the Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1880-81.
A gorget is a piece of shell that has been engraved and perforated so that it can be worn as a pendant; in this case, it has been engraved with a cross insignia. The caption beneath the image reveals that the gorget was found in Union County, Illinois.
In a footnote to his article, Holmes identifies “Kate C. Osgood” as an accompanying artist on his collecting expedition.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1883
printer
Government Printing Office
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
author
Holmes, William Henry
ID Number
1980.0219.0080
catalog number
1980.0219.0080
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of a "Dancer holding up the great plumed arrow"

This engraved woodblock for “Dancer holding up the great plumed arrow” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Figure 54 (p.434) in an article by Dr.
Description
This engraved woodblock for “Dancer holding up the great plumed arrow” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Figure 54 (p.434) in an article by Dr. Washington Matthews (1843-1905) entitled “The Mountain Chant: a Navajo ceremony” in the Fifth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1883-84.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1887
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
block maker
A. P. J. & Co.
author
Matthews, Washington
ID Number
1980.0219.0438
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0438

Engraved woodblock of a "Navajo woman weaving a belt"

This engraved woodblock of “Navaho woman weaving a belt” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate XXXVI (p.384) in an article by Dr.
Description
This engraved woodblock of “Navaho woman weaving a belt” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate XXXVI (p.384) in an article by Dr. Washington Matthews (1843-1905) entitled “Navajo Weavers” in the Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1881-82.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1884
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Matthews, Washington
block maker
A. P. J. & Co.
ID Number
1980.0219.1366
catalog number
1980.0219.1366
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of an "Aleut dancing or mortuary mask"

This engraved woodblock of an “Aleut dancing or mortuary mask” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1884 as Plate XXVIII.71 (p.201) in an article by William Healey Dall (1845-1927) entitled “On Masks, Labrets, and Certain
Description
This engraved woodblock of an “Aleut dancing or mortuary mask” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1884 as Plate XXVIII.71 (p.201) in an article by William Healey Dall (1845-1927) entitled “On Masks, Labrets, and Certain Aboriginal Customs with an Inquiry into the Bearing of Their Geographical Distribution” in the Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1881-82.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1884
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Dall, William H.
ID Number
1980.0219.0164
catalog number
1980.0219.0164
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of an American Indian woman

This engraved woodblock of a portrait of an American Indian woman was prepared by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. for the Bureau of American Ethnology in about 1880.Currently not on view
Description
This engraved woodblock of a portrait of an American Indian woman was prepared by Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. for the Bureau of American Ethnology in about 1880.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
graphic artist
Nichols, H. H.
ID Number
1980.0219.0528
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0528

Engraved woodblock of hand signs for the letters 'S' through 'Y'

This engraved woodblock shows hand signs for the letters "S" through "Y." The illustration was used in a publication relating to the gesture-signs and signals of the North American Indians by Garrick Mallery; it was prepared and printed by the Government Printing Office in Washin
Description
This engraved woodblock shows hand signs for the letters "S" through "Y." The illustration was used in a publication relating to the gesture-signs and signals of the North American Indians by Garrick Mallery; it was prepared and printed by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C. for the Bureau of American Ethnology in about 1880.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1880
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Mallery, Garrick
block maker
Grottenthaler, V.
ID Number
1980.0219.1368
catalog number
1980.0219.1368
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of a "Cochiti water vessel"

This engraved woodblock of a “Cochiti water vessel” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Figure 637 (p.402) in “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from the Indians of New Mexico and Arizona in 1879” by James
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Cochiti water vessel” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Figure 637 (p.402) in “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from the Indians of New Mexico and Arizona in 1879” by James Stevenson (1840-1888), in the Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1880-81.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1883
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Stevenson, James
ID Number
1980.0219.0384
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0384

Engraved woodblock of an "Indian mask from the northwest coast of America"

This engraved woodblock of an “Indian mask from the northwest coast of America” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate XIV.23 (p.173) in an article by William Healey Dall (1845-1927) entitled “On Masks, Labrets, and Ce
Description
This engraved woodblock of an “Indian mask from the northwest coast of America” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate XIV.23 (p.173) in an article by William Healey Dall (1845-1927) entitled “On Masks, Labrets, and Certain Aboriginal Customs with an Inquiry into the Bearing of Their Geographical Distribution” in the Third Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1881-82. According to the annual report, the image shows a “dancing mask used by the Indians of Cape Flattery, Washington Territory” and was originally drawn by J.G. Swan (1818-1900).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1884
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Dall, William H.
original artist
Swan, J. G.
ID Number
1980.0219.1011
catalog number
1980.0219.1011
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of the "Earliest map showing the location of the Cherokees, 1597"

This engraved woodblock of the “Earliest map showing [the] location of the Cherokees, 1597” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate VII (p.128) in an article by Charles Royce (1845-1923) entitled “The Cherokee Nation of
Description
This engraved woodblock of the “Earliest map showing [the] location of the Cherokees, 1597” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate VII (p.128) in an article by Charles Royce (1845-1923) entitled “The Cherokee Nation of Indians: a narrative of their official relations with the colonial and federal governments” in the Fifth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1883-84.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1887
publisher
Government Printing Office
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
U.S. Government Printing Office
author
Royce, Charles C.
block maker
J. J. & Co.
ID Number
1980.0219.1531
catalog number
1980.0219.1531
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of a" Wolpi horn rattle"

This engraved woodblock of a “Wolpi horn rattle” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 574 (p.397) in an article by James Stevenson (1840-1888) entitled “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from the Ind
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Wolpi horn rattle” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 574 (p.397) in an article by James Stevenson (1840-1888) entitled “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from the Indians of New Mexico and Arizona in 1879” in the Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1880-81.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1883
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
photographer
Hillers, John K.
author
Stevenson, James
ID Number
1980.0219.0918
catalog number
1980.0219.0918
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of the "Workshop of a Navajo Silversmith"

This engraved woodblock of the “Workshop of a Navajo Silversmith” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate XVII (p.175) in an article by Dr.
Description
This engraved woodblock of the “Workshop of a Navajo Silversmith” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Plate XVII (p.175) in an article by Dr. Washington Matthews (1843-1905) entitled “Navajo Silversmiths” in the Second Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1880-81.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1883
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
author
Matthews, Washington
printer
Government Printing Office
ID Number
1980.0219.1428
catalog number
1980.0219.1428
accession number
1980.0219

Engraved woodblock of a "Zuni eating bowl"

This engraved woodblock of a “Zuni eating bowl” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1883 as Figure 425 (p.
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “Zuni eating bowl” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1883 as Figure 425 (p. 357) in an article by James Stevenson (1840-1888) entitled “Illustrated Catalogue of the Collections Obtained from the Indians of New Mexico and Arizona in 1879” in the Second Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1880-81.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1883
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Stevenson, James
ID Number
1980.0219.0032
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0032

Engraved woodblock of an "Eskimo approaching seal"

This engraved woodblock, after a photograph, of an “Eskimo approaching seal” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Figure 412 (p.484) in an article by Franz Boas (1858-1942) entitled “The Central Eskimo” in the Sixth Annual
Description
This engraved woodblock, after a photograph, of an “Eskimo approaching seal” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published as Figure 412 (p.484) in an article by Franz Boas (1858-1942) entitled “The Central Eskimo” in the Sixth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1884-85.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1888
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Boas, Franz
ID Number
1980.0219.0368
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0368

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