Who created "Shelf Clock"?

Shelf Clock was created by Ferdinand Cartier in c. 1940.

When was "Shelf Clock" created?

This artwork was created c. 1940.

Is "Shelf Clock" in the public domain?

Yes, Shelf Clock is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Shelf Clock

Q: What medium is "Shelf Clock"?

Shelf Clock is watercolor, colored pencil, pen and ink and graphite on paperboard.

Ferdinand Cartier

c. 1940

Medium

watercolor, colored pencil, pen and ink and graphite on paperboard

Dimensions

overall: 55.3 x 45.7 cm (21 3/4 x 18 in.) Original IAD Object: 28"base-top of finial; 11 1/2"wide, base; 5 7/8"deep, base. See d.s.

Classification

Index of American Design

Department

CG-W

Museum

National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Credit

Index of American Design

Accession Number

1943.8.4760

Art Historical Context

Behold the exquisite *Shelf Clock*, a meticulously rendered depiction created by artist Ferdinand Cartier around 1940. This vibrant watercolor, enriched with colored pencil, pen and ink, and graphite on paperboard (55.3 x 45.7 cm), captures the elegant form of an American shelf clock—standing 28 inches from base to finial top, with a 11½-inch-wide base and 5⅞-inch depth. Cartier's work showcases the clock's graceful proportions, ornate details, and polished surfaces, evoking the craftsmanship of early American decorative arts. As part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a landmark WPA Fede...

About the Artist

Ferdinand Cartier

Ferdinand Cartier is an artist whose historical record remains limited. No confirmed birth or death dates have been established, and his national origin and training background are not documented in surviving sources, making it difficult to place him within any specific artistic tradition or school. Cartier's presence in museum collections, with close to fifty works attributed to him, points to a...

Shelf Clock

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