Silver Teapot

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Silver Teapot*, a meticulous graphite drawing on paperboard by artist Michaelenga, created around 1938. Measuring 29 x 36.8 cm, this work captures the elegant form of a real silver teapot standing 6 5/8 inches high. Fenga's precise lines highlight the object's graceful curves, spout, and handle, rendering its shimmering metallic surface with remarkable realism through subtle shading and texture. This artwork is a gem from the Index of American Design, a New Deal-era Federal Art Project (1935–1942) under the Works Progress Administration. During the Great Depression, artists like Fenga documented everyday American objects—folk art, crafts, and designs—to celebrate the nation's creative heritage and inspire modern makers. Graphite on paperboard was ideal for these detailed, archival renderings, preserving the teapot's craftsmanship for posterity. Silver teapots like this one evoke early American silversmithing traditions, symbols of hospitality and refinement in colonial homes. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, Fenga's drawing not only showcases technical skill but also underscores the cultural value of utilitarian beauty, bridging past artistry with public appreciation today.

About the Artist

Michael Fenga · 1914–1995

**Michael Fenga (1913–2006)** was an American artist best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression. Born around 1913, likely in New York given the project's regional focus, Fenga's early life and artistic training remain sparsely documented, with no records of specific tea...