Piggin
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 28 x 22.9 cm (11 x 9 in.) Original IAD Object: 8 1/2" in diameter; 9 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
1943.8.13239
Art Historical Context
**Piggin** *Annie B. Johnston,. 1938* Watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink paper Overall: 28 x 22.9 cm (11 x 9 in.) *Index of American Design, National Gallery of Art* B. Johnston's delicate rendering captures a "piggin," a humble yet essential wooden vessel from early American life. Shaped like a small pail with a long handle, piggins were crafted by coopers for practical tasks such as scooping grain, milking cows, or bailing water. Dating to the colonial era, this example—measuring 8½ inches in diameter and 9½ inches high—exemplifies the sturdy, functional craftsmanship of America...
About the Artist
Annie B. Johnston
Annie B. Johnston was an American artist active in the late 1930s, recognized for her contributions to the Index of American Design, the New Deal-era federal program that commissioned artists to create meticulous watercolor renderings of American folk and decorative arts objects. Working in watercolor, colored pencil, graphite, and pen and ink on paper, Johnston brought technical precision and sen...