Clock Reel
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 30.7 x 22.9 cm (12 1/16 x 9 in.) Original IAD Object: data sheet: "approximately 30" high and 27" wide"
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8177
Art Historical Context
**Clock Reel**, a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by artist Frank Eiseman from around 1938, meticulously captures the intricate details of a traditional American folk craft. Measuring 30.7 x 22.9 cm (12 1/16 x 9 in.), this work depicts an original object approximately 30 inches high and 27 inches—a humble yet elegant yarn reel, likely used for winding and measuring thread in colonial and early American households. Eiseman's precise draftsmanship highlights the reel's functional form and decorative charm, blending utility with artisanal pride. Created as of the **Index of America...