Trivet

Art Historical Context

**Trivet**, a delicate watercolor and graphite rendering by Edward Bash from around 1942, captures humble beauty of an everyday American household object. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a monumental Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression—this artwork exemplifies the era's effort to document and celebrate the nation's folk art and decorative traditions. Bashaw, one of many skilled artists employed by the Federal Project, meticulously depicted a trivet, a sturdy stand used to protect surfaces from hot pots and irons, highlighting its functional elegance ...