Toy Fire Engine
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.8 x 45.8 cm (14 1/8 x 18 1/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 11 1/2" long; 4 1/2" high; 4" deep
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15749
Art Historical Context
Behold William Spiecker's *Toy Fire Engine* (1935/1942), a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering on paper measuring 35.8 x 45.8 cm. This detailed depiction captures the charm of a classic American toy—originally 11½ inches long, 4½ inches high, and 4 inches deep—showcasing its bright red body, gleaming brass details, and whimsical ladders poised for imaginative rescues. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression, the artwork preserves everyday objects of American folk art and craftsma...