Toy Bank: Mule and Manger

Art Historical Context

**Toy Bank: Mule andanger** is a vibrant rendering by artist Chris Makrenos, around 1937 as part of the Index of American Design (IAD This detailed depiction captures a charming folk toy bank shaped like a mule standing beside a manger, ev the Nativity scene with a playful, everyday American twist. The original object, measuring just 5 5/16 inches high, 8 1/2 inches long, and 3 5/16 inches wide, represents the whimsical craftsmanship of early 20th-century toys, blending functionality with holiday symbolism. Produced under the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, the IAD commissioned artists like Makrenos to document America's rich folk art heritage through precise, colorful illustrations. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, this work (30.5 x 40.7 cm overall) preserves the cultural essence of handmade objects that might otherwise be lost to time, highlighting regional ingenuity and the joy of simple playthings. Makrenos employed a mixed-media technique—watercolor, graphite, pen and ink, and gouache on paperboard—to achieve luminous colors and fine details, mimicking the toy's wood-grain textures and festive paints. This labor-intensive approach not only showcases artistic skill but also underscores the IAD's mission to celebrate democratic design, making everyday artifacts accessible and appreciated by all.

About the Artist

Chris Makrenos · 1855–present

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 ...