Coal Scuttle
c. 1938
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 35 x 44 cm (13 3/4 x 17 5/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 20" long; 11 3/4" high; 10 1/2" in diameter
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9470
Art Historical Context
Mildred Ford's *Coal Scuttle* (c. 1938) captures the humble yet essential household object that once fueled American homes during the era of coal heating. Rendered in precise graphite on paperboard ( x 44 cm), this drawing meticulously depicts a functional scuttle—originally 20 inches long 11¾ inches high, and ½ inches in diameter—showcasing its sturdy form, likely crafted from metal with practical handles and a sloped lid for easy scooping. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project from 1935–1942, Ford's work exemplifies the program'...
About the Artist
Mildred Ford
Mildred Ford (1895–1988) was an American artist whose career is indelibly linked to the Index of American Design, a monumental Works Progress Administration (WPA) project launched in the 1930s to document the nation's rich heritage of decorative arts and folk objects. Through her precise renderings, Ford helped preserve intricate details of everyday artifacts—from toleware utensils to Pennsylvania...