Cake Mold

Art Historical Context

**Cake Mold**, a meticulous graphite drawing on paperboard by artist Ameliaccio around 1941, captures the elegant simplicity of a traditional American cake mold. Measuring 29.1 x 32.1 cm, this work renders the original object's 8 3/8-inch diameter and 3 /16-inch width with precise detail, highlighting its functional curves and sturdy form. Tuccio's rendering showcases the everyday beauty of utilitarian kitchenware, transforming a humble baking tool into an object of artistic appreciation. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942—this drawing preserves examples of American folk art and craftsmanship during the Great Depression. The Index employed artists to document regional designs, ensuring cultural heritage endured amid economic hardship. Graphite on paperboard allowed for photorealistic accuracy, emphasizing texture, shadow, and proportion to evoke the mold's tactile quality. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, **Cake Mold** reflects mid-20th-century interest in America's domestic traditions. Such molds, often handcrafted from tin or pewter, were staples in colonial and frontier kitchens, symbolizing self-reliance and festive baking rituals. Tuccio's work invites us to savor the artistry in the ordinary, bridging art history with the warmth of home.

About the Artist

Amelia Tuccio · 1904–1977

Amelia Tuccio (1904–1977) was an American artist born in Italy on April 1, 1904. Little is known about her early life or formal training, which remains undocumented in available sources. She emerged as a skilled draftsman in the United States during the 1930s, contributing significantly to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambit...