Andiron (one of pair)
c. 1938
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 40.6 x 30.5 cm (16 x 12 in.) Original IAD Object: 11 1/8" high; 8 1/2" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8255
Art Historical Context
Behold the intricate graphite drawing *Andiron (one of pair)* by Jack Stal, created around 1938. This precise rendering captures a classic American fireplace accessory—an andiron—designed to support logs in open hearths. Measuring 40.6 x 30.5 cm overall, it meticulously documents an original object standing 11 1/8 inches high and 8 1/2 inches wide, showcasing the elegant curves and functional beauty typical of early American metalwork. As part of the *Index of American Design* (IAD), a groundbreaking Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942, Staloff'...
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...