Adjustable Candle Holder

Art Historical Context

**Adjustable Candle Holder** Howard Lumbard (. 1937) is a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard, measuring 39.8 x 33.2 cm. Created as part of the *Index of American Design*, work exemplifies a New Deal-era initiative (1935–1942) under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The project employed artists nationwide to meticulously document everyday American objects—folk art, crafts, and utilitarian designs—preserving the nation's cultural heritage amid the Great Depression. Lumbard's precise technique blends soft watercolor washes for rich tones and textures with graphite lines for sharp detailing, faithfully capturing the candle holder's adjustable mechanism and functional elegance. This medium was ideal for the Index's goal of creating accurate, museum-quality records that highlighted American ingenuity in household items, evoking colonial or early industrial craftsmanship. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, this piece underscores the democratic spirit of the WPA, blending art with history to celebrate ordinary innovation. Visitors will appreciate how it bridges fine art and design, inviting reflection on America's inventive past.

About the Artist

Howard Lumbard · 1855–present

Howard Lumbard was an American artist active around 1935 whose precise watercolor and graphite drawings form a notable part of the Index of American Design. His early life is not well documented, with no records of formal training, teachers, or artistic education coming to light. Instead, Lumbard is known through his contributions to this ambitious New Deal-era initiative, a Federal Art Project of...