Pa. German Butter Mold
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 31.8 x 22.7 cm (12 1/2 x 8 15/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 4" whde; 4 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
1943.8.3761
Art Historical Context
This delicate rendering captures a traditional Pennsylvania German butter mold, a functional object once used in rural households to shape and decorate pats of butter with carved wooden designs. Dating to the 18th or 19th century, such molds reflect the rich folk-art traditions brought by German-speaking immigrants to Pennsylvania. Their intricate motifs—often flowers, hearts, or geometric patterns—served both practical and symbolic purposes, turning everyday dairy work into an expression of cultural identity and craftsmanship. Created around 1938 by Charlotte Angus as part of the Index of Am...
About the Artist
Charlotte Angus
Charlotte Angus (1911–1989) was an American artist renowned for her meticulous watercolors and graphite drawings that captured the essence of American folk art and historical artifacts. Born on February 2, 1911, in Kansas City, Missouri, she relocated to Philadelphia at a young age, where she immersed herself in the city's vibrant artistic community. Angus honed her skills at the University of the...