Tubular Hand Lamp

Art Historical Context

Step into the illuminating world of American design with *Tubular Hand Lamp*, a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by John H. Tercuzzi, around 1940. This precise depiction captures a compact, portable lamp—originally measuring just 8 7/8 inches high 5 inches wide—casing its sleek tubular form, likely a testament to early 20th ingenuity in everyday lighting. Rendered on paperboard at 36.8 x 28 cm, Tercuzzi's work highlights the lamp's functional elegance through delicate washes of color and fine graphite lines, evoking the glow of a bygone era. As part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942, this piece belongs to a vast archive of over 15,000 watercolor studies documenting America's folk art and craftsmanship. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's CG-W department, it preserves the cultural heritage of utilitarian objects like hand lamps, which powered homes and workshops before widespread electricity. Tercuzzi, one of many skilled artists in the program, employed meticulous techniques to record textures, proportions, and historical details, ensuring these everyday treasures endured the test of time. Today, *Tubular Hand Lamp* reminds us of America's inventive spirit, blending artistry with practicality in an age of economic hardship and innovation. A true gem for design enthusiasts!

About the Artist

John H. Tercuzzi · 1855–present

John H. Tercuzzi was an American artist active during the late 1930s and early 1940s, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious endeavor commissioned artists to document everyday American objects—from folk crafts and tools to decorative household items—through meticulous watercolo...