Andiron
c. 1938
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 40.7 x 30.6 cm (16 x 12 1/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 14 1/2" high; 7 3/8" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.17053
Art Historical Context
**Andiron** *Jack Staloff, c. 1938* Graphite on paperboard,40.7 × 30.6 cm (16 × 12 1/16 in.) *Index of American Design, National Gallery of Art* precise graphite drawing by Jack Staloff captures the form of an andiron—a sturdy metal stand used to support burning logs in colonial fireplaces. Rendered at actual size on paperboard, it meticulously documents an original object measuring 14½ inches high and 7⅜ inches wide, highlighting the craftsmanship of early American decorative arts. Staloff's clean lines and subtle shading bring out the andiron's functional beauty, from its curved legs...
About the Artist
Jack Staloff
Jack Staloff was an American artist and designer active during the 1930s and 1940s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a New Deal-era Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious initiative commissioned artists across the United States to create precise watercolor and graphite renderings of everyday American crafts, tools, and dec...