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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 2114 ·

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

Walk this roomRehang this room

Section 1, north wall

  1. 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
  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 1, south wall

  1. This is a drawing of two ornate elephants. The image depicts two stylized elephants, each adorned with decorative elements. Both elephants are shown carrying a structure on their backs, resembling a small tower or box with a red domed top. The left elephant is turned to the side, its trunk raised. The right elephant faces forward. Each structure on their backs is detailed with intricate designs, including a diamond shape on the side. The overall composition suggests a ceremonial or regal theme. The subtle use of colors like red and gold enhances the ornate appearance. The coloring and shading indicate an attention to detail typical of deliberately crafted illustrations.
    Iron Bank ElephantZ.S. Lupus, c. 1938Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. This is a drawing of a decorative mirror. It presents a detailed design of an ornate mirror with two views: a front view and a sectional view. The mirror frame is embellished with elaborate motifs, including scrolls and floral elements. The sectional view shows the mirror's depth and structural details, indicating attention to construction. Measurements are included in inches, with title and notes providing context on the mirror's location and purpose as part of interior furnishings.
    MirrorB. Holst-Grubbe, 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 2, south wall

  1. The image displays a full-body illustration of a person standing upright. They have a delicate and round face with rosy cheeks and small, pink lips. Their eyes are large and expressive, and they have light-colored hair peeking out from under a bonnet. The person's attire consists of a long, dark skirt and a light-colored shawl draped over their shoulders. They wear a hooded cloak tied with a bow at the neck, and hold a small bag in their left hand. The background is plain with a light-colored texture. The artwork is a painted illustration with visible fine lines and shading to enhance details of the clothing and facial features.
    Quaker DollBertha Semple, 1935/1942Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The image shows an ornate metalwork design with a winged creature. The design features intricate wrought iron decoration with a mythical figure, resembling a Pegasus, enclosed within a circular frame. The central circle is surrounded by symmetrical, stylized scrollwork motifs and horizontal bars, suggesting an architectural or ornamental fixture intended for use in structures like gates or window grills. The detailed craftsmanship and balanced design highlight the creature's form and the harmonious symmetry of the patterns.
    Fence - Sea Horse DesignPearl Torell, c. 1939Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. This is a drawing of decorative motifs. The image shows three distinct designs with ornate, swirling patterns. The uppermost design is in gold color. Two additional designs are sketched below in a lighter tone, likely pencil. The use of line and form emphasizes intricate looping patterns that suggest inspiration from natural forms such as vines or waves. The composition is against a plain background, drawing attention to the details and shapes of the motifs, presenting a sense of simplicity and artistry.
    Gold BroochIsidore Steinberg, c. 1940Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 2, north wall

  1. This is a drawing of a wooden window shutter in a light-colored wall. The detailed study shows the craftsmanship of the shutter, with a focus on texture, form, wood grain, and panels. The aged and weathered texture suggests exposure to the elements. The shutter is secured with a metal latch in the center. The wall is subtly shaded to imply depth and setting, with slight distress marks adding to the aged ambiance of the scene.
    Sacristy Door at Mission San Juan BautistaEthel Dougan, 1938Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  2. The image features a large terracotta pot with two small handles on its sides. The pot is primarily in shades of earthy orange and brown with some lighter patches that suggest a slightly weathered texture. It is positioned centrally against a plain, light background.
    Preserving JarWilford H. Shurtliff, c. 1938Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
  3. 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

Section 3, north wall

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. The image shows a person standing upright. They have a round face with simple facial features, wearing a hat with a red flower and dark ribbon. Their outfit includes a belted dress or coat, pleated texture, a cape, and arm coverings. The person is holding a matching umbrella in their right hand. The background is plain and light tan.
    Corn Husk DollMina Lowry, c. 1936Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington

Section 3, south wall

  1. 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
  2. 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