Flat Iron Holder

Art Historical Context

Neva Coffey's *Flat Iron Holder* (c. 1940) is a meticulous graphite drawing on paperboard, capturing the yet essential design of a household tool from early 20th-century America. 33.9 x 27.5 cm, this work renders an original object just 9 1/8 inches long and 41/8 inches wide, showcasing its sturdy form likely crafted from wood or metal to safely grip heavy, stove-heated flat irons before electric models dominated kitchens. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD)—a WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942—this piece exemplifies a national effort to document everyday American folk art and craftsmanship amid the Great Depression. Artists like Coffey produced precise, realistic renderings to preserve cultural heritage, highlighting utilitarian objects that reflected regional ingenuity and domestic life. Coffey's graphite technique emphasizes fine details, texture, and proportion, bridging art and anthropology. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, it invites visitors to appreciate how ordinary tools embodied American resourcefulness, offering a tangible link to pre-modern homemaking traditions.