Hitching Post Finial
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 44.7 x 30.3 cm (17 5/8 x 11 15/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16555
Art Historical Context
**Hitching Post Finial** *by Mina Lowry, c. 1940* Mina Lowry's exquisite rendering of a *Hitching Post Finial*, a charming piece of American folk art captured in watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper (44.7 x 30.3 cm). Created around 1940, this detailed depiction showcases the whimsical topper from a hitching post—those sturdy fixtures once essential for tethering horses outside homes, taverns, and public buildings in early America. Finials like this often featured playful animal or eagle motifs, blending utility with regional craftsmanship and pride. Lowry's work is part of the...
About the Artist
Mina Lowry
Mina Lowry (1894–1942), an American artist born in Canada, emerged as a prominent portrait painter whose career bridged traditional portraiture and the documentation of American folk art. Immigrating to Buffalo, New York, with her family around 1901, she honed her skills early on, winning first prize for modeling at the Albright Art School and studying under the esteemed Florence J. Bach. Lowry fu...