Conestoga Axe Holder
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 22.9 x 28.3 cm (9 x 11 1/8 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.3708
Art Historical Context
**Conestoga Axe Holder**, a meticulously rendered depiction by artist G.L. Schafer around 1939, captures the utilitarian elegance of a tool holder from the iconic Conestoga wagon. Created using watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard (measuring 22.9 x 28.3 cm), this work showcases Schafer's precise technique: fine ink lines and graphite details outline the wooden form, while watercolor adds subtle tonal depth, evoking the weathered patina of everyday pioneer life. This artwork is part of the *Index of American Design*, a landmark WPA Federal Art Project (1935–1942) that employed a...