Pa. German Toy Turkey
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 28.8 x 22.4 cm (11 5/16 x 8 13/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 4 3/4" long; 5" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.3743
Art Historical Context
Behold the charming *Pa. German Toy Turkey a watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard by Selma Sand, created around 1940. This delicate work, measuring 28.8 x 22.4 cm, captures the form of a small wooden toy—originally just 4¾ inches long and 5 inches high—from Pennsylvania German folk traditions. Sandler's precise lines and vibrant washes bring to life the carved bird's plump body, sturdy legs, and playful expression, evoking the handmade joys of rural American childhoods. As part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a WPA-era project from the 1930s and 1940s, this piece documents e...