Sap Pail
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 35.5 x 24.7 cm (14 x 9 3/4 in.) Original IAD Object: 11 1/2" high; 12 1/2" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.12803
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Sap Pail*, a meticulously rendered watercolor and graphite depiction by G.A. Spangenberg, created 1938. Measuring 35.5 x 24.7 cm, this work captures the humble beauty of a traditional wooden bucket used for collecting maple sap—a vital tool in New England's sugaring traditions. Spangen precise graphite outlines and luminous watercolors highlight the pail's weathered textures, subtle grain, and functional form, transforming an everyday object into a study of American craftsmanship. This artwork is a gem from the Index of American Design, a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project (19...