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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 992 ·

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

Walk this roomRehang this room

Section 1, north wall

  1. 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
  2. The image shows a wooden chair with a tall back featuring three wide horizontal slats. The chair has an upholstered seat, likely grey or muted in color. The color palette consists of natural wood tones and a neutral seat color. The chair is facing slightly to the left with the seat slightly tilted.
    Shaker Side ChairRay Holden, c. 1937Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. A wooden mallet is displayed on a beige background. The mallet has a rounded handle and a broad head, showcasing earthy brown tones with variations in the wood grain. Positioned centrally, the mallet stands upright in the image.
    Potato MasherClarence W. Dawson, c. 1940Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 1, south wall

  1. 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
  2. The image shows a tall, intricately designed purple candlestick against a light beige background. The overall color palette is dominated by shades of purple. The candlestick is centrally positioned and stands upright with detailed patterns visible.
    VaseJanet Riza, c. 1937Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. The image shows a painted artwork within an ornate frame. The artwork features a figure standing with one hand raised. The figure has long hair and a beard, and wears flowing blue and white garments. The background shows an earthy surface and a sky. The frame is gold and elaborately designed. The scene is set against a blank, light-colored background.
    Original Tabernacle, for Communion VesselsDayton Brown, 1936Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 2, south wall

  1. The image shows an ornate chair with a high back, decorative carvings along its arms, legs, and backrest, a woven or cane seat and back, and intricate patterns. The chair is detailed with earthy brown tones and subtle shading accentuating the wood texture and design motifs. It is placed in the center of the image, facing slightly to the left, with linear guides indicating perspective and depth on a plain background.
    ArmchairAgnes Karlin, c. 1936Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. 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

Section 2, north wall

  1. This image shows an engraved design featuring a cannon with large wheels next to an eagle perched on top, situated on the left side of a rectangular stone slab. The color scheme is predominantly grayscale with subtle hints of blue and gray tones throughout the stone surface. The cannon is positioned slightly to the left in the composition, with its barrel pointing to the right, while the eagle is perched on the cannon barrel facing forward, wings tucked close to its body. To accompany the cannon, a stack of cannonballs is carved on the lower left, further anchoring the scene within the carved rectangle.
    Bas ReliefEdward L. Loper, c. 1938Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The image shows a large rectangular wooden box with decorative panels, a metal handle on the side, and a keyhole on the front panel.
    "Chest"Edith Towner, 1940Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. The image shows a translucent pitcher in soft, pale green with swirling, striped patterns and a curved handle. It is placed in the center of the frame, with a neutral off-white background. The spout faces slightly to the left and the handle curves from the right side.
    Glass PitcherBeverly Chichester, c. 1937Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 3, north wall

  1. This is a drawing of a dress design. The illustration features a dress with a square neckline, adorned with embroidery around the bust area. The dress has a high waistline with a gathered skirt. The lower part of the dress also features floral embroidery patterns. The design emphasizes fine lines and delicate patterns.
    Baptismal DressEvelyn Bailey, c. 1936Courtesy 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 3, south wall

  1. This is a drawing of a textile design. The image consists of a pattern with the text "LYDIA FELT 1834 BLOOMFIELD" displayed along with decorative motifs of abstract leaves and floral shapes in a contrasting color against a dark background. The composition also includes the word "EAST" placed vertically and "YORK" placed horizontally. The combination of geometric shapes and organic elements forms a unified aesthetic typical of traditional textile patterns.
    CoverletMargaret Linsley, c. 1940Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The image shows a large, rusted ax with a curved brown handle placed diagonally across the canvas. The color palette consists of muted browns and beiges, highlighting the aged appearance of the ax. Beneath the ax, there is a faint outline sketch of a similar object, and the artist's signature is located to the right of the sketch. The ax is in the upper half of the image, while the sketch and signature are in the center-bottom section.
    Dumb IronAlfonso Moreno, c. 1938Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington