Pendulum Clock

Art Historical Context

Behold the meticulously rendered *Pendulum Clock* by John Jordan, created around 1937 as part of the Index of American Design (IAD). This vibrant watercolor, colored pencil, gouache, graphite drawing on paper (35.5 x 27.8 cm) captures intricate details of a classic American timepiece, with its original clock face measuring a neat 7 3/4 inches square. Housed in the National Gallery of Art it exemplifies the IAD's mission to document everyday objects of American folk art and craftsmanship from the colonial era through the 19th century. Jordan's mixed-media technique brings the clock to life, blending fluid watercolors for rich tones, precise colored pencils and graphite for fine lines, and opaque gouache for luminous highlights. This approach highlights the clock's elegant pendulum swing, ornate casework, and functional beauty—hallmarks of early American ingenuity in horology. Produced under the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression, the IAD employed artists like Jordan to preserve cultural heritage through accurate, artistic reproductions, fostering national pride in vernacular design. Today, this work invites visitors to appreciate how ordinary objects like pendulum clocks—once essential to homes and communities—embody the precision and artistry of America's past, bridging history with the tactile allure of handcrafted legacy.