Tea Kettle

Art Historical Context

**Tea Kettle** by Amelia Tuccio, created around 1940, is a meticulous graphite drawing on paperboard measuring 35.6 x 31.8 cm (14 x 12 1/2 in.). This work captures the form of an everyday American tea kettle, originally 8 1/2 inches in diameter, highlighting its functional curves and sturdy craftsmanship through fine lines and subtle shading. Tuccio's precise rendering exemplifies the technical skill required to document three-dimensional objects in two dimensions, transforming a humble household item into a study of form and utility. As part of the *Index of American Design* (IAD), a groundbreaking Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942, this drawing contributed to a vast visual archive of American folk art, crafts, and design. During the Great Depression, artists like Tuccio were employed to record regional objects at risk of being lost to time, preserving cultural heritage through accurate, artistic documentation. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, it reflects mid-20th-century efforts to celebrate everyday American ingenuity. The graphite medium allowed for the detailed tonal gradations that convey texture and light, making the kettle appear tangible and inviting. Today, it invites visitors to appreciate how ordinary items embody our shared history, bridging art, design, and domestic life.

About the Artist

Amelia Tuccio · 1904–1977

Amelia Tuccio (1904–1977) was an American artist born in Italy on April 1, 1904. Little is known about her early life or formal training, which remains undocumented in available sources. She emerged as a skilled draftsman in the United States during the 1930s, contributing significantly to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambit...