Coffee Mill

Art Historical Context

This watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink drawing on paperboard, titled Coffee Mill, was created around 1940 by artist Milton Bevier. It belongs to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration that documented American decorative arts during the Great Depression. Bevier's work meticulously records a coffee mill, an object of everyday utility, reflecting the project's aim to preserve the nation's craft heritage. The original mill, measuring 8 5/8 inches long, 6 3/4 inches high, and 7 7/8 inches deep, was a compact household device for grinding coffee beans. By illustrating such items with great care, the Index celebrated the design and craftsmanship found in ordinary American life, from kitchen tools to furniture. Bevier employed watercolor for color and texture, graphite for underdrawing, and pen and ink for precise lines, creating a realistic depiction that highlights the mill's form and materials. These renderings provided invaluable visual records and served as both artistic and scholarly resources. Today, this piece in the National Gallery of Art offers insight into New Deal art programs and the history of American domestic objects.