Carpet Stretcher
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 37.9 x 48.4 cm (14 15/16 x 19 1/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 16 3/4" long; 1" wide; hammer: 9 3/4" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9146
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Carpet Stretcher*, a meticulous 1935/1942 watercolor and graphite rendering on paper by Howard Lumbard, measuring 37.9 x 48.4 cm. This work captures a humble yet essential household tool—16 3/4 inches long and 1 inch wide, complete with a 9 3/4-inch hammer head—used to tautly secure carpets in early American homes. Lumbard's precise depiction highlights the object's sturdy wooden form and functional design, evoking the ingenuity of everyday craftsmanship. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942, this piece exempli...