Altar Chimes on Wheel
c. 1941
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.7 x 26.7 cm (14 1/16 x 10 1/2 in.) Original IAD Object: none given
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6918
Art Historical Context
"Altar Chimes on," a captivating watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite by William Kieckhofel around 1941, meticulously captures an intriguing piece of American folk craftsmanship. Measuring 35.7 x 26.7 cm, this work depicts a wheel-mounted set of chimes likely used in domestic altars or devotional settings, evoking the rhythmic, resonant sounds of everyday spirituality. Kieckhofel's draftsmanship highlights the object's wooden construction, suspended metal chimes, and ornamental details, blending functionality with artistic whimsy. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a F...
About the Artist
William Kieckhofel
William Kieckhofel was an American artist active in the 1930s and early 1940s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, the ambitious New Deal-era documentation project administered under the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration. Working in watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paper, Kieckhofel produced meticulous renderings of American decorativ...