Covered box

Elizabeth Copeland was a pioneering force in the American Arts and Crafts movement and an exemplar of the opportunities newly afforded to female artisans. The leading American enamellist of her time, her work has a bold, expressive, and intentionally course quality that self-consciously references medieval enamels. After attending the Cowles Arts School, where she studied with the metalsmith and enamellist Laurin H. Martin (1875-1939), Copeland traveled to Europe and may have studied with London’s preeminent enamellist, Alexander Fisher (1865-1936). Copeland worked briefly at Boston’s Handicrafts Shop before establishing her own studio, which she maintained until her retirement in 1937. Throughout her career, Copeland won numerous awards and honors, and the June 1903 issue of The Craftsman celebrates her enamelwork, stating, "Miss Copeland’s work shows great vigor and simplicity of treatment and a style quite her own." This box’s bold yet intricate composition framing a large central element is characteristic of Copeland’s work from the second decade of the twentieth century. The subtle tonal variations in the enamel achieve a masterful, impressionistic quality that defines Copeland’s artistry at its best.