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American folk and design

The everyday art of early America, recorded in watercolour by the Index of American Design.

90 works · hang 751 ·

The rooms are imagined; every work on their walls is real.

Walk this roomRehang this room

Section 1, north wall

  1. This is a painting of a quilt design pattern. The image depicts a square quilt block featuring a variety of geometric shapes and patterns pieced together. The quilt features a mix of colors, including blues, reds, browns, and a pink border, with intricate patterns in the fabric segments. The textures and colors create an intricate optical composition resembling different geometric forms and depth. The piece is delicately framed within a larger white space, which emphasizes the detail of the quilt pattern. This is in the style of a traditional textile or quilting pattern illustrator.
    Cotton Bed QuiltElgin Moncure Styll, c. 1941Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The image shows a large, intricately designed vase with a bulbous base and flared top at the center. The vase is decorated with painted scenes of a town or village. The color scheme includes shades of blue, green, brown, and touches of yellow and red. Surrounding the vase are two smaller detailed sections showing close-ups of the painted scenes on it. The main vase image is enclosed within a boxed outline on the page.
    Fire Lighter VaseFrancis Law Durand, 1935/1942Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. The image shows a painted decoy of a bird mounted on a wooden stake. The decoy has intricate details with spots of yellow and green on top of a dark body. The colors are naturalistic with brown, black, yellow, white, and beige. In the lower left section of the image, there are two line drawings of a bird.
    Snipe DecoyLawrence Flynn, 1941Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 1, south wall

  1. The image shows a large wooden chest with a rectangular design and a keyhole on its front panel. The chest has a weathered look in muted browns and grays. It is positioned in the center with its top, front, and side panels visible. The background is plain and light in color.
    Utility ChestHenry Tomaszewski, 1937Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. This is a painting of a vintage fire hose cart. It is intricately designed, featuring a four-wheeled cart meant to hold a coiled fire hose. The painting showcases the cart's wooden spoked wheels and hose mechanism, as well as ornate wrought iron designs and a brass figure. A bell is depicted above one wheel. The painting captures the craftsmanship of the era and is reminiscent of the style of Charles Demuth, known for his attention to detail and focus on industrial and architectural elements.
    Fire Hose ReelHans Mangelsdorf, c. 1938Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. This is a drawing of an abstract shape or artifact. The image features a central black object positioned against a plain, light-colored background. The object has a slightly irregular, elongated triangular form with rounded edges and contours. It includes a series of geometric holes and protrusions. The subtle shadowing suggests a three-dimensional form, yet the drawing maintains a simplicity that emphasizes the object's unique contours and cutouts.
    BootjackClaude Marshall, c. 1940Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 2, south wall

  1. The image shows various shapes and lines within a square border. In the center, there is an abstract circular pattern resembling a stylized floral design. The inner circle contains leaf-like shapes in green, surrounded by a ring resembling petals or decorative motifs. The overall effect is similar to a decorative shield or medallion. The background texture adds depth to the composition.
    Quilt Block - "E. Cooper" DesignFlorence Truelson, 1935/1942Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The image shows a wooden side table with a smooth surface and four tapered legs, as well as a decorative drawer front. The table has a rich brown color with gold accents and black inlay details. It is positioned towards the center of the image. On the left, there are design patterns in an oval shape and a thin line drawing. The background is off-white. There are handwritten numbers and letters at the bottom right corner of the image.
    Card TableFlorence Choate, c. 1953Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. The sculpture depicts a young boy dressed in a bright red coat, blue shirt, and blue pants, with black shoes. He is wearing a black hat with a red rim and has curly hair. The boy is balanced on one foot atop a red ball, with one leg lifted behind him and one hand held high above his head. The sculpture is made of painted, cast metal with intricate designs and textures. The boy stands on an ornately decorated dark pedestal.
    Toy BankPearl Torell, c. 1939Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 2, north wall

  1. The image depicts a large, round, domed container with a handle on its side. It has a textured and layered appearance with a central band. The color palette consists of various shades of brown and some orange tones. The container is centered in the image with the handle facing towards the viewer. The name "Janetta Badanes" is visible near the bottom right of the image.
    Copper Baptismal FontJuanita Donahoo, c. 1941Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. This is a drawing of a furniture design with detailed measurements and decorative elements. The drawing depicts a piece of furniture with a combination of drawers and a cabinet, shown from the front and the side. Specific measurements are provided for various parts of the furniture, such as the width, height, and depth. The design features include a decorative carving in relief on the front panel, a detailed cross-section of the knob, and ornamental patterns on the side. The drawing is technical in nature, likely intended for crafting or woodworking purposes, emphasizing the detailed aspects needed for construction.
    Chest of DrawersFlorence Neal, 1935/1942Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. The image shows a beige knitted fingerless glove on a light-colored background. The glove is flat and displayed vertically, with the thumb-piece extending to the left. There is a subtle dark pattern or lettering at the base of the glove. The color palette is warm with beige tones against the light background, emphasizing the texture and design of the glove.
    Knitted GloveElizabeth Moutal, c. 1936Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 3, north wall

  1. The image features a round, ornately decorated object resembling a shield with metallic-looking decorative hinges on its surface. The color palette is primarily earthy tones such as brown, red, and hints of gold. The object is centered in the image, viewed from the front, with engravings decorating its surface. The background is plain and light in color.
    Baptismal FontWilliam Kieckhofel, c. 1941Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The image shows a dark metal object with two parts: a handle and a blade. The color palette consists of shades of dark brown on a light beige background. The handle is located at the top center, and the blade portion is positioned below it, both aligned vertically in the center of the frame.
    SpitEmile Cero, c. 1938Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 3, south wall

  1. The sculpture depicts a mythical creature resembling a dragon. It has a long spiraled body and an intricate head with spiky protrusions. The sculpture is a warm brown color. The dragon has bat-like wings, an open mouth, detailed texture with scales, and is standing on a small base.
    FenceRose Campbell-Gerke, c. 1941Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The image depicts an iron sculpture with grapevine motifs. The color scheme is primarily brown, with a textured appearance. The grapevine design is arranged vertically and includes grape clusters and leaves. The sculpture is mounted on a base and includes an iron bar at the top. The artist's signature "ROSE CAMPBELL GERKE" is visible in the lower right corner of the image.
    FenceRose Campbell-Gerke, c. 1940Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington