Copper Tea Kettle
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 40.5 x 32.1 cm (15 15/16 x 12 5/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 7 1/2" in diameter; 7 1/2" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16584
Art Historical Context
In the heart of the Index of American Design, a treasure trove of Depression-era artistry, Wayne White's *Copper Tea Kettle* (c. 1940) captures the humble elegance of everyday American craftsmanship. Created as part of the Federal Art under the Works Progress Administration (PA), this watercolor, graphite, and colored rendering on paperboard meticulously documents a 7½-inch-diameter copper kettle, preserving objects that embodied the nation's cultural heritage amid economic hardship. White's precise depiction highlights the kettle's gleaming curves and functional beauty, evoking the warmth of ...