Spiral Iron Candle Holder
c. 1941
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 40.8 x 33 cm (16 1/16 x 13 in.) Original IAD Object: 7" high; 6 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
1943.8.9087
Art Historical Context
Created around 1941 by artist Chris Makos, *Spiral Iron Candle Holder* is a meticulous rendering of a classic American folk craft object, captured in watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper (40.8 x 33 cm). This detailed drawing depicts a 7-inch-high wrought iron candle holder with its elegant spiral form, evoking the sturdy, handcrafted ironwork popular in early American households. Makrenos's work beautifully translates the object's three-dimensional curves and metallic sheen into a vibrant, two-dimensional study, highlighting its functional beauty. As part of the Index of American De...
About the Artist
Chris Makrenos
Chris Makrenos was an American artist active in the mid-twentieth century who contributed a substantial body of work to the Index of American Design, the New Deal-era federal project that documented American folk art and decorative culture through meticulous watercolor illustration. His works are held in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and span a wide range of subjects drawn from ...