Circular Desk
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, graphite, and heightening on paper
Dimensions
overall: 24.6 x 35.7 cm (9 11/16 x 14 1/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 8'3"long overall; 22"wide; 31"long, legs. See data sh. for dets.
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.5688
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Circular Desk*, a meticulous rendering by artist Cornelius Frazier, created around 1936 as part of the Index of Design (IAD). This watercolor, colored pencil, graphite and heightening on paper24.6 x 35.7 cm) captures the curves and functional beauty of an actual American furniture piece—measuring an impressive 8'3" long overall, with a 22" width and sturdy 31"-long legs. Frazier's work transforms a utilitarian desk into a study in graceful design, highlighting its circular form that likely evokes mid-20th-century innovation in domestic furnishings. As a product of the IAD, a New D...