Match Safe

Match Safe by Thomas Holloway

Medium

watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper

Dimensions

overall: 27.9 x 24 cm (11 x 9 7/16 in.)

Classification

Index of American Design

Department

CG-W

Museum

National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Credit

Index of American Design

Accession Number

1943.8.12599

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Match Safe*, a captivating watercolor, graphite, and gouache by Thomas Holloway, created around 1936. This delicate work, measuring 27.9 x 24 cm, depicts a humble yet ingenious American household object—a protective container for matches, often crafted with folk artistry in the early 20th century.'s precise technique captures its form and textures with vibrant gouache highlights and graphite details, blending realism with artistic flair to celebrate everyday design. As part of the Index of American Design, a New Deal-era Federal Art Project (1935–1942), this piece holds profound h...

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