Floor plan

Style galleriesAmerican folk and design

American folk and design

This is a drawing of a tool with intricate patterns. The tool appears elongated with a pronged end, and features symmetrical geometric designs etched along the handle. The drawing also includes a side profile showing its slender form.
The sculpture depicts a male figure standing upright with one hand raised and the other resting on his hip. The subject is wearing a garment that drapes over one shoulder and a feather-patterned skirt, accessorized with a headband. The colors of the sculpture are predominantly earth tones, including browns and a green headband. The material appears to be a type of stone or ceramic with a polished finish. The figure is slightly larger than everyday objects, allowing viewers to appreciate the intricacies of the carving and the details in the drapery and texture. The statue stands on a rectangular base that is consistent with the overall color palette.
The image shows a detailed sketch of a dress with short, puffed sleeves and a decorative neckline. There is a smaller sketch of the same dress to the right. The color palette is monochrome gray scale, with darker gray outlines and details against a light gray background. The main dress is centered, with the smaller sketch positioned to the right.
This is a drawing of a decorative vase design. The central focus of the image is a detailed drawing of a vase with a bulbous body and a flared top, placed on an intricately designed tall stand. The stand features elaborate ornate patterns, giving it an almost floral appearance with its swirling details and golden hue. The vase itself has subtle decorative elements engraved or painted around its surface. Surrounding the primary image are additional sketches showcasing different parts and views of the vase, such as its profile, the pattern, and cross-sectional diagrams. These supplementary sketches provide further insight into the structural and decorative design aspects of the vase. The careful attention to scale and detail suggests this is a design blueprint for a piece of decorative art.
The image shows five metallic objects arranged in a vertical column. These include three L-shaped brackets and two circular rings, in muted gray and rust-brown shades with a metallic sheen. The objects are positioned against a light, neutral background.
The image displays a detailed drawing of a vintage wall-mounted lamp. The color palette consists of primarily browns and earthy tones, with hints of a metallic sheen. The lamp is centered in the image, with its base attached to the right side and extending to the left. A subtle shadow and highlights give the lamp a three-dimensional appearance against a plain, light beige background.

The works in this room are listed below.

Works in this room

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

Section 1, north wall

  1. This is a drawing of a tool with intricate patterns. The tool appears elongated with a pronged end, and features symmetrical geometric designs etched along the handle. The drawing also includes a side profile showing its slender form.
    ForkAnthony Zuccarello, c. 1936Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The sculpture depicts a male figure standing upright with one hand raised and the other resting on his hip. The subject is wearing a garment that drapes over one shoulder and a feather-patterned skirt, accessorized with a headband. The colors of the sculpture are predominantly earth tones, including browns and a green headband. The material appears to be a type of stone or ceramic with a polished finish. The figure is slightly larger than everyday objects, allowing viewers to appreciate the intricacies of the carving and the details in the drapery and texture. The statue stands on a rectangular base that is consistent with the overall color palette.
    Cigar Store IndianRosamond P. Gray, 1935/1942Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. The image shows a detailed sketch of a dress with short, puffed sleeves and a decorative neckline. There is a smaller sketch of the same dress to the right. The color palette is monochrome gray scale, with darker gray outlines and details against a light gray background. The main dress is centered, with the smaller sketch positioned to the right.
    Child's DressRay Price, c. 1937Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 1, south wall

  1. This is a drawing of a decorative vase design. The central focus of the image is a detailed drawing of a vase with a bulbous body and a flared top, placed on an intricately designed tall stand. The stand features elaborate ornate patterns, giving it an almost floral appearance with its swirling details and golden hue. The vase itself has subtle decorative elements engraved or painted around its surface. Surrounding the primary image are additional sketches showcasing different parts and views of the vase, such as its profile, the pattern, and cross-sectional diagrams. These supplementary sketches provide further insight into the structural and decorative design aspects of the vase. The careful attention to scale and detail suggests this is a design blueprint for a piece of decorative art.
    Metal Base LampHenry Meyers, c. 1936Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The image shows five metallic objects arranged in a vertical column. These include three L-shaped brackets and two circular rings, in muted gray and rust-brown shades with a metallic sheen. The objects are positioned against a light, neutral background.
    Color Notes on IronGerald Transpota, 1935/1942Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. The image displays a detailed drawing of a vintage wall-mounted lamp. The color palette consists of primarily browns and earthy tones, with hints of a metallic sheen. The lamp is centered in the image, with its base attached to the right side and extending to the left. A subtle shadow and highlights give the lamp a three-dimensional appearance against a plain, light beige background.
    Binnacle LampHerman O. Stroh, 1938Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 2, south wall

  1. 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
  2. The image shows a decorative curved object with intricate patterns. There is a large green peacock motif in the center, surrounded by floral and geometric patterns. The color palette includes soft pinks, greens, and blue accents outlining the curve of the object. The object is placed on a plain light background.
    BandboxNicholas Acampora, 1937Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. The image shows a large ceramic vase with two curved handles positioned near the top on either side. The vase has an earthy color palette with shades of brown, beige, and a subtle hint of reddish-brown forming a band around its middle. The vase is centrally placed on a flat surface, and both handles extend outward at the top.
    VaseIsadore Goldberg, c. 1939Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 2, north wall

  1. This is a painting of an intricate and colorful illuminated manuscript page. The full-description includes a richly decorated page featuring elaborate calligraphy and floral motifs. The left side showcases swirling ornamental patterns with vibrant colors - blues, reds, and golds - interwoven with blooming flowers and a small figure with wings. In the lower portion, there is a depiction of small buildings. The right side contains text in different styles, with the top section written in large decorative letters and the lower section in a more detailed script. The overall design is bordered with floral elements and intertwining vines. This is in the style of illuminated manuscripts found in historical European documents and books.
    FrakturAlbert Levone, 1935/1942Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The image shows a wooden frame with six vertical cylindrical pegs evenly spaced. The color palette consists of light and medium brown tones. The structure is angled to the right with four visible legs. In the bottom left corner, there is a smaller sketched diagram with measurements.
    Candle MoldVincent P. Rosel, c. 1936Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 3, north wall

  1. This is a painting of a decorative wooden chest. The chest has intricate designs, such as painted figures, trees, and animals, creating a narrative scene on its front side, and floral motifs on its sides. The craftsmanship suggests it is an ornate object, potentially used for storage or as an ornamental piece. The painting focuses on the texture and details of the wood and decoration with precision, in a traditional arts and crafts or folk art style, emphasizing fine detail and storytelling through imagery on functional furniture.
    Jewel CabinetCharles Henning, c. 1939Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. A brown tree branch with several thick, bifurcated limbs is central in the image. The background is a muted beige with aged discoloration marks. The branch is oriented horizontally, with its thicker end on the left and split limbs extending to the right. In the top left corner, there is a rectangular inset with a simplified line drawing of the branch's shape.
    BootjackLloyd A. Davidson, c. 1942Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 3, south wall

  1. The image depicts a detailed drawing of a wall-mounted vessel. It consists of a large, spherical body attached to a flat disc, with two smaller protrusions resembling handles or clips. The color palette is monochromatic with shades of gray, giving it a metallic or ceramic appearance. The objects are centrally positioned, with a small inset illustration in the bottom left corner showing annotations. The artist's signature, "A. Marshall," is located near the lower right corner of the image.
    LampArsen Maralian, c. 1936Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The image shows a tall, narrow wooden table with a square top and four long, slender legs. The color palette is warm with shades of light brown and reddish-brown on the table. Positioned centrally, the table stands against a plain, light-colored background.
    Shaker StandRay Holden, c. 1936Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. The image shows two large quilt blocks with a matching design, side by side. Each block consists of red and beige fabric with quilted stitching creating a textured appearance. The color palette includes primarily red, beige, and dark stitching outlining the patterns. The quilt blocks are placed centrally on a light-colored surface.
    Patchwork QuiltPaul Ward, c. 1936Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington