Flat Iron Holder
c. 1940
Medium
graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 33.9 x 27.5 cm (13 3/8 x 10 13/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 9 1/8" long; 4 1/8" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15873
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 fol...