Whistle 1840

Adam Ownhouse created this earthenware whistle sometime in the 19th century. It’s humble, handmade, and yet now it sits in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. How might we understand such an object, especially as it’s now preserved within a temple of high culture? Consider the material: earthenware. It speaks to a rural setting, a life close to the earth. The form, a bird, is simple and charming, adorned with folk motifs. Think about the sound it makes: a whistle, a call. Perhaps it was used to signal across distances, connecting people in a pre-industrial landscape. It would be interesting to investigate the social role of folk art in 19th-century America. Was it seen as a counterpoint to academic art? Did museums collect objects like these, or were they more likely to be found in private homes? By studying objects like these, we learn that the history of art is never just about masterpieces; it’s about the everyday creativity of people.