Andiron (one of pair)
c. 1936
Medium
graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 27.3 x 21.6 cm (10 3/4 x 8 1/2 in.) Original IAD Object: 11 1/2" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8234
Art Historical Context
This delicate graphite drawing by Mildred Ford captures one of a pair of andons—traditional fireplace supports designed to elevate logs for efficient burning. Created around 1936, the artwork meticulously renders an original object standing 11½ inches high, showcasing its form on a sheet measuring 27.3 x 21.6 cm. Andirons, often crafted with ornamental flair, were essential hearth accessories in American homes, symbolizing both functionality and craftsmanship. Ford's piece is part of the *Index of American Design*, a landmark Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) f...
About the Artist
Mildred Ford
Mildred Ford (1895–1988) was an American artist whose career is indelibly linked to the Index of American Design, a monumental Works Progress Administration (WPA) project launched in the 1930s to document the nation's rich heritage of decorative arts and folk objects. Through her precise renderings, Ford helped preserve intricate details of everyday artifacts—from toleware utensils to Pennsylvania...