Shaving Mug
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 29.1 x 21.8 cm (11 7/16 x 8 9/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 2 3/4" High
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6174
Art Historical Context
Frank Fumagalli's *Shaving Mug* (5/1942) is a meticulous rendering of diminutive ceramic vessel, standing just 2 inches high, captured in watercolor, graphite, colored pencil on paperboard Measuring 29.1 x .8 cm overall, delicate drawing showcases the mug's details—from its glossy glaze and hand-painted to its practical form designed for wet shaving rituals ofgone eras. Fumag's skilled hand brings the object to life, highlighting charm of American folk craftsmanshipCreated as part of the of American Design (I), a groundbreaking WPA Federal Project from the 1930s and early 1940s, work documents...
About the Artist
Frank Fumagalli
Frank Fumagalli (c. 1895–1958) was an Italian-born American artist whose precise watercolor renderings captured the essence of everyday American folk art objects during the mid-20th century. Little is known about his early life and training, as biographical details remain scarce beyond his immigration from Italy and establishment in the United States. Active primarily in New York, Fumagalli gained...