Three Legged Gate-leg Table

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Three Legged Gate-leg*, a meticulous 1936 watercolor rendering by Rex Dolmith, of the National Gallery of's esteemed Index of American Design collection This intimate work on paper (25.2 x 35.2 cm) captures the elegant simplicity of an early American furniture form—a gate-leg table with an unusual three-legged base. Gate-leg tables, popular in colonial households, featured hinged leaves supported by pivoting legs, offering versatile dining surfaces in compact spaces. Dolmith's depiction highlights the table's turned wood elements and subtle proportions, evoking the craftsmanship of 17th- or 18th-century makers. Created during the Great Depression as part of the Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (1935–1942), the Index of American Design employed artists like Dolmith to document the nation's folk art and decorative heritage through precise, colorful renderings. Using watercolor for luminous tones, colored pencil for fine details, and graphite for sharp outlines, Dolmith's technique preserved the table's patina and form with scientific accuracy, safeguarding cultural artifacts against loss. Today, this piece underscores America's design legacy, blending functionality with folk ingenuity. It invites visitors to appreciate how everyday objects embodied ingenuity and resilience in early settler life.

About the Artist

Rex Dolmith · 1855–present

Rex Dolmith, an American artist born on January 1, 1896, in East Canton, Ohio, pursued formal training at the Art Institute of Chicago, where he honed his skills in portraiture, architectural drawings, and landscapes. He further studied at the University of Colorado, broadening his artistic foundation before embarking on a multifaceted career that blended painting, design, teaching, and gallery ma...