North America Plate

Mary Douglas, North America Plate, 1990, commercial copper plate, patina, and wax, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1998.113.3
Copied Mary Douglas, North America Plate, 1990, commercial copper plate, patina, and wax, 5⁄8 x 9 in. (1.6 x 22.9 cm) diam., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1998.113.3

Artwork Details

Title
North America Plate
Artist
Date
1990
Location
Dimensions
5⁄8 x 9 in. (1.6 x 22.9 cm) diam.
Credit Line
Gift of the artist
Mediums
Mediums Description
commercial copper plate, patina, and wax
Classifications
Keywords
  • Object — written matter — map
  • Landscape — North America
Object Number
1998.113.3
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1998.113.3

Artwork Description

North America Plate has been shaped into a profile of the United States like those we often see in souvenir stands at Yellowstone or Mount Rushmore. The French term repoussé refers to the method of hammering the design into the metal surface from the back. The title is a pun on the geologists' term for the section of the earth's crust on which our nation stands.