Art

The National Museum of American History is not an art museum. But works of art fill its collections and testify to the vital place of art in everyday American life. The ceramics collections hold hundreds of examples of American and European art glass and pottery. Fashion sketches, illustrations, and prints are part of the costume collections. Donations from ethnic and cultural communities include many homemade religious ornaments, paintings, and figures. The Harry T Peters "America on Stone" collection alone comprises some 1,700 color prints of scenes from the 1800s. The National Quilt Collection is art on fabric. And the tools of artists and artisans are part of the Museum's collections, too, in the form of printing plates, woodblock tools, photographic equipment, and potters' stamps, kilns, and wheels.

Before becoming an international phenomenon, the Arts and Crafts movement began with the ideas of British artisan William Morris (1834-1896) and writer John Ruskin (1819-1900).
Description
Before becoming an international phenomenon, the Arts and Crafts movement began with the ideas of British artisan William Morris (1834-1896) and writer John Ruskin (1819-1900). Morris and Ruskin believed that the growth of cities isolated urban workers and that mass production negatively affected artisan crafts. They proposed to solve these issues by returning to a medieval-inspired village model where everybody participated in a community lifestyle. In the United States, artisans adapted these ideas into the studio art pottery movement. Unlike their British counterparts, who often focused predominantly on social issues and therefore made objects that incorporated Gothic and Renaissance motifs, American craftsmen developed a cohesive and novel aesthetic.
Rookwood developed a matte glaze around 1900 to compete with the forest-green hues of the popular Grueby Faience Company. Unlike Grueby’s glaze, which appears waxy and leafy, Rookwood’s interpretation often uses pastel tones with a vellum-like finish. The transition from Rookwood’s earlier “standard glaze” (a deep mahogany brown color gradating into yellow) showcases how competitive ceramics companies were able to preserve their art pottery production while keeping up with changing trends. Rookwood’s vellum glaze in particular helped the company win a Grand Prize at a 1904 international competition and was the company’s last internationally-recognized glaze.
Collectors often refer to vases decorated in this fashion as “Scenic Vellums” because of their glaze and depiction of romanticized landscapes. Decorator Edward George Diers painted this vase with a delicate birch pattern, alluding to the American art deco preference for linear decoration and stylized natural motifs. Records show that Diers began working for Rookwood as a decorator and designer in 1894. He left the company in 1931 – the same year he decorated this vase.
Rookwood developed a matte glaze around 1900 to compete with the forest-green hues of the popular Grueby Faience Company. Unlike Grueby’s glaze, which appears waxy and leafy, Rookwood’s interpretation often uses pastel tones with a vellum-like finish. The transition from Rookwood’s earlier “standard glaze” (a deep mahogany brown color gradating into yellow) showcases how competitive ceramics companies were able to preserve their art pottery production while keeping up with changing trends. Rookwood’s vellum glaze in particular helped the company win a Grand Prize at a 1904 international competition and was the company’s last internationally-recognized glaze.
Collectors often refer to vases decorated in this fashion as “Scenic Vellums” because of their glaze and depiction of romanticized landscapes. Decorator Edward George Diers painted this vase with a delicate birch pattern, alluding to the American art deco preference for linear decoration and stylized natural motifs. Records show that Diers began working for Rookwood as a decorator and designer in 1894. He left the company in 1931 – the same year he decorated this vase.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1931
maker
Rookwood Pottery
ID Number
CE.393622
catalog number
393622
accession number
208838
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1937
maker
Kloss, Gene
ID Number
GA.19276
catalog number
19276
accession number
170056
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of three star General William H. Simpson. Simpson wears a olive drab service coat (with green tie) and officer pins on his lapels. He is completely bald and has brown eyes. Simpson is behind a blue background.Currently not on view
Description
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of three star General William H. Simpson. Simpson wears a olive drab service coat (with green tie) and officer pins on his lapels. He is completely bald and has brown eyes. Simpson is behind a blue background.
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1941 - 1945
associated person
Chase, Joseph Cummings
Chase, Joseph Cummings
artist
Chase, Joseph Cummings
ID Number
AF.47001
catalog number
47001
accession number
166217
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of three star General Alex H. Patch. Patch wear a khaki uniform (without color insignia or stars on his shoulder loops) and a white scarf. He also wears a M1 helmet with three silver stars.
Description
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of three star General Alex H. Patch. Patch wear a khaki uniform (without color insignia or stars on his shoulder loops) and a white scarf. He also wears a M1 helmet with three silver stars. Patch is in front of a green background.
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1941 - 1945
associated person
Chase, Joseph Cummings
Chase, Joseph Cummings
artist
Chase, Joseph Cummings
ID Number
AF.46998
catalog number
46998
accession number
46998
White on black lithograph of American opera singer, Marian Anderson (1897-1993).
Description

White on black lithograph of American opera singer, Marian Anderson (1897-1993). The print is marked:

[in script along bottom]

MARIAN ANDERSON

[in script]

Charles Delaunay
34

This print is from a set of 15 lithographs of jazz musicians by Charles Delauney, entitled Hot Iconography, first printed in 1939.

Charles Delaunay (1911–1988) was a French author and jazz expert. Delaunay was the co-founder and long-term leader of the Hot Club de France, a French organization of jazz fans dedicated to the promotion of "traditional" jazz, swing, and blues. In 1931, the Jazz Club Universitaire was founded, and later became the Hot Club de France in 1932.

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1939
depicted
Anderson, Marian
maker
Delaunay, Charles
ID Number
2001.0182.02
accession number
2001.0182
catalog number
2001.0182.02
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 1930
maker
The Hazel-Atlas Glass Company
ID Number
CE.77.546Bab
accession number
1978.0006
catalog number
77.546Bab
White on black lithograph of American jazz singer, trumpeter, dancer and bandleader of swing, Freddy Taylor (1914-1970). 3/4 profile of Taylor wearing a hat. No signature or number/year on print.
Description

White on black lithograph of American jazz singer, trumpeter, dancer and bandleader of swing, Freddy Taylor (1914-1970). 3/4 profile of Taylor wearing a hat. No signature or number/year on print. The print is marked:

FREDDY TAYLOR

This print is from a set of 15 lithographs of jazz musicians by Charles Delauney, entitled Hot Iconography, first printed in 1939.

Charles Delaunay (1911–1988) was a French author and jazz expert. Delaunay was the co-founder and long-term leader of the Hot Club de France, a French organization of jazz fans dedicated to the promotion of "traditional" jazz, swing, and blues. In 1931, the Jazz Club Universitaire was founded, and later became the Hot Club de France in 1932.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1939
depicted
Taylor, Freddy
maker
Delaunay, Charles
ID Number
2001.0182.03
accession number
2001.0182
catalog number
2001.0182.02
Oil on thick illustration board. Portrait of Second Lieutenant Charles W. Shea. Shea wears a olive drab uniform with a blue scarf. He also wears a infantry pin on his collar and a artillery belt (which he grips with his left hand).
Description
Oil on thick illustration board. Portrait of Second Lieutenant Charles W. Shea. Shea wears a olive drab uniform with a blue scarf. He also wears a infantry pin on his collar and a artillery belt (which he grips with his left hand). Shea is clean shaven, has brown eyes, and red hair. He is in front of a white and blue background. Shea's signature in pencil is in the top right corner.
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1941 - 1945
associated person
Chase, Joseph Cummings
Chase, Joseph Cummings
artist
Chase, Joseph Cummings
ID Number
AF.47016
catalog number
47016
accession number
166217
Mounted gelatin silver print of Edward Weston's Artichoke Halved, 1930. The photograph was printed by Edward's son Cole Weston from his father's original negative.Edward Weston was influential in the modern photography movement beginning in the 1930s.
Description (Brief)
Mounted gelatin silver print of Edward Weston's Artichoke Halved, 1930. The photograph was printed by Edward's son Cole Weston from his father's original negative.
Edward Weston was influential in the modern photography movement beginning in the 1930s. He is well known for photographing the natural surroundings of his home on the California coast. Weston created striking works of art, some abstract, some more traditional images. A leader in American photography of the 20th century, Weston's prints were first exhibited at the Smithsonian in 1947. Afterwards, he remained interested in the national photography collection. At times, Weston recommended photographers to curators for collecting opportunities, and eventually donated a selection of his work and several cameras to the Photographic History Collection.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1930
maker - negative
Weston, Edward
maker - print
Weston, Cole
ID Number
PG.69.137.16
catalog number
69.137.16
accession number
288850
Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
c. 1930
maker
The Hazel-Atlas Glass Company
ID Number
CE.77.546Aab
catalog number
77.546Aab
accession number
1978.0006
White on black lithograph of American jazz pianist, Joe Turner (1907-1990). The portrait features the head and hands of Turner as he would be seated at a piano.
Description

White on black lithograph of American jazz pianist, Joe Turner (1907-1990). The portrait features the head and hands of Turner as he would be seated at a piano. The print is marked:

[in script, top left]

JOE TURNER

[in script]

Charles Delaunay
35

This print is from a set of 15 lithographs of jazz musicians by Charles Delauney, entitled Hot Iconography, first printed in 1939.

Charles Delaunay (1911–1988) was a French author and jazz expert. Delaunay was the co-founder and long-term leader of the Hot Club de France, a French organization of jazz fans dedicated to the promotion of "traditional" jazz, swing, and blues. In 1931, the Jazz Club Universitaire was founded, and later became the Hot Club de France in 1932.

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1939
depicted
Turner, Joe
maker
Delaunay, Charles
ID Number
2001.0182.07
accession number
2001.0182
catalog number
2001.0182.07
White on black lithograph of American jazz trumpeter, composer, vocalist, and actor Louis Armstrong (1901-1971). The portrait is a close-up of Armstrong's face.
Description

White on black lithograph of American jazz trumpeter, composer, vocalist, and actor Louis Armstrong (1901-1971). The portrait is a close-up of Armstrong's face. The print is marked:

[printed along bottom]

LOUIS

[in script, bottom right]

LOUIS ARMSTRONG

[in script]

Charles Delaunay
34

This print is from a set of 15 lithographs of jazz musicians by Charles Delauney, entitled Hot Iconography, first printed in 1939.

Charles Delaunay (1911–1988) was a French author and jazz expert. Delaunay was the co-founder and long-term leader of the Hot Club de France, a French organization of jazz fans dedicated to the promotion of "traditional" jazz, swing, and blues. In 1931, the Jazz Club Universitaire was founded, and later became the Hot Club de France in 1932.

Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1939
depicted
Armstrong, Louis
maker
Delaunay, Charles
ID Number
2001.0182.12
accession number
2001.0182
catalog number
2001.0182.12
White on black lithograph of American jazz tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins (1904-1969). The image is of Hawkins, in profile, holding a saxophone on his lap. The print is on a cardboard backing.
Description

White on black lithograph of American jazz tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins (1904-1969). The image is of Hawkins, in profile, holding a saxophone on his lap. The print is on a cardboard backing. The lithograph is marked:

[printed along bottom]

HAWKINS

[in script at bottom]

Coleman Hawkins

[in script]/p>

Charles Delauney
3[ ]

This print is from a set of 15 lithographs of jazz musicians, entitled Hot Iconography, first printed in 1939.

Charles Delaunay (1911–1988) was a French author and jazz expert. Delaunay was the co-founder and long-term leader of the Hot Club de France, a French organization of jazz fans dedicated to the promotion of "traditional" jazz, swing, and blues. In 1931, the Jazz Club Universitaire was founded, and later became the Hot Club de France in 1932.

Location
Currently not on view
date made
1939
depicted
Hawkins, Coleman
maker
Delaunay, Charles
ID Number
2001.0182.06
accession number
2001.0182
catalog number
2001.0182.06
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of two star General Russell L. Maxwell.
Description
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of two star General Russell L. Maxwell. Army Service Ribbons for Decorations and Medals include: Distinguished Service Medal, WWI Victory, Army of German Occupation (1918-1923), American Defense with one gold leaf cluster, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign, and a Unknown Ribbon (solid red, possibly Chevalier Légion d'honneur). Maxwell wears officer and General Staff Corps pins on his lapels. He also wears a green and gold cord pinned to his right breast jacket pocket. (possibly referring to his rank of Assistant Chief of Staff).
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1945
associated date
1941 - 1945
associated person
Chase, Joseph Cummings
Chase, Joseph Cummings
artist
Chase, Joseph Cummings
ID Number
AF.46997
catalog number
46997
accession number
166217
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of five star General George C. Marshall.
Description
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of five star General George C. Marshall. Army Service Ribbons for Decorations and Medals include: Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Unknown Ribbon (purple, possibly the purple heart), WWI Victory, Philippine Congressional, American Defense Service, Légion d'honneur, Unknown Ribbon (alternating bands of red and black), Unknown Ribbon (mostly white with a large band of red at the end and a small band of blue in the middle), Commendation Ribbon, Army Wound Ribbon, Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Unknown Ribbon (equally sized bands of white, blue, and red), Unknown Ribbon (solid black with a small red band in center), Unknown Ribbon (orange with two bands of gold stripes, Unknown Ribbon (solid white), Unknown Ribbon (solid green with red band in center). Marshall wears a five star General's pin and possibly a War Department General Staff Identification pin on his shoulder loops. He also wears two officer pins and two Gerneral Staff Corps pins on his lapel. Marshall wears a black tie.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1945
associated date
1941 - 1945
associated person
Marshall, George C.
artist
Chase, Joseph Cummings
ID Number
AF.46977
catalog number
46977
accession number
166217
Oil on thick illustration board. Portrait of Master Sergeant Joseph E. Schaefer. Schaefer wears a olive drab uniform (top button undone) with a artillery belt. He is sitting and rests his right arm on a M1 helmit and leans a rifle up against his left leg.
Description
Oil on thick illustration board. Portrait of Master Sergeant Joseph E. Schaefer. Schaefer wears a olive drab uniform (top button undone) with a artillery belt. He is sitting and rests his right arm on a M1 helmit and leans a rifle up against his left leg. Schaefer is clean shaven, has slicked back brown hair, and is smoking a cigarette. He also wears a gold watch on his left wrist. A light blue top coating covers the majority of the portrait. Schaefer's signature in pencil can be found in the top left corner.
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1941 - 1945
associated person
Chase, Joseph Cummings
Chase, Joseph Cummings
artist
Chase, Joseph Cummings
ID Number
AF.47015
catalog number
47015
accession number
166217
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of four star General Joseph T. McNarney.
Description
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of four star General Joseph T. McNarney. Army Service Ribbons for Decorations and Medals include: Unknown Ribbon (obscured by lapel, yellow and blue), Legion of Merit, WWI Victory with five gold stars, American Defense Service with one gold star, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign, WWII Victory, Navy of Occupation Medal, Chile Order of Merit, Unknown Ribbon (olive green with two thin darker green bands at each end), Order of George 1, Unknown Ribbon (obscured by lapel, white ribbon with a thin red band and a large red block), Unknown Ribbon with palm(red with two thin orange bands at each end, possibly Order of the White Eagle), Unknown Ribbon with palm (orange with four thin bands of green, two at each end), Order of Bath, Polonia Restituta Class II, Croix de guerre with palm, Meritorious Service Medal with rosette, Unknown Ribbon (yellow with two equally spaced green bands), Unknown Ribbon (five alternating bands of white and black), Unknown Ribbon (alternating bands of red, white, and green), Order of the Crown of Italy 4th Class, and an Unknown Ribbon (green with a thin yellow band in center). McNarmy wears a army aviation badge above his ribbons and a Allied Force HQ insignia patch on the shoulder of his left arm sleeve. He also wears officer pins on his lapels. McNarmy is balding.
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1941 - 1945
associated person
Chase, Joseph Cummings
Chase, Joseph Cummings
artist
Chase, Joseph Cummings
ID Number
AF.46995
catalog number
46995
accession number
166217
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of four star General Mark W. Clark.
Description
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of four star General Mark W. Clark. Army and Navy service ribbons for decorations and medals include: Distinguished Service Cross (not visible in portrait), Army Distinguished Serivce Medal, Navy Distinguished Serivce Medel, Legion of Merit (not visible in portrait), Bronze Star with "V" Device, Purple Heart, Victory with three Gold Stars, (unknown ribbon with a center block of black, two pink stripes, and ending and begining in red obsured by lapel), American Defense Service, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign with six Gold Stars, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, Order of the British Empire Knight, (unknown ribbon of solid red possibly with a rosette flanked by two green dots), French Croix de Guerre, Order of Suvorov First Class, Order of the Southern Cross Knight, (unknown ribbon of alternating yellow and green bands, green is the large center block), (unknown ribbon of yellow with two bands of green at the begining and end), (unknown ribbon with equally sized blue, red, and blue blocks), Order of Ouissam Alaouite Morocco, (unknown ribbon of alternating stripes of yellow and black), Order Virtuti Militari Silver Cross, (Unknown ribbon of red, white, and green, bands), (unknown ribbon of solid dark green with a large gold star design in center), and the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus ribbon. Clark wears a Fifth Army Patch on the shoulder of his left arm sleeve and a Overseas Service patch with eight gold bars and two gold chevrons on the lower left arm sleeve. He wears a officer pin on his collar. Clark also wears a gold watch on his left hand. His right hand has not been filled in with color.
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1919 - 1940
associated person; depicted (sitter)
Clark, Mark
artist
Chase, Joseph Cummings
ID Number
AF.46985
catalog number
46985
accession number
166217
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of one star General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.
Description
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of one star General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. Roosevelt wears a olive drab uniform with suspenders with infantry collar insignia (possibly representing a Puerto Rico Regiment) and a M1 helmet (with chinstrap) with one silver star (indicating rank). Roosevelt appears to be addressing someone just beyond the boundaries of the portrait, extending his right arm. He holds a camo colored cane in his left hand (which he used due to arthritis from old WWI injuries). Roosevelt is in front of a green background. His signature, in pen, is written on a paper label glued to the bottom left corner of the portrait.
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1941 - 1945
associated person
Chase, Joseph Cummings
Chase, Joseph Cummings
artist
Chase, Joseph Cummings
ID Number
AF.58380M
catalog number
58380M
accession number
211728
Oil painting on white illustration board. Painting is a bust portrait of General H.H. Arnold of the Commanding Army Air Forces. Arnold is facing slightly to the left in the painting, and is wearing his formal uniform.
Description
Oil painting on white illustration board. Painting is a bust portrait of General H.H. Arnold of the Commanding Army Air Forces. Arnold is facing slightly to the left in the painting, and is wearing his formal uniform. His Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Cross, and Air Medal ribbons are visible on his coat. The three oak leaves on his Distinguished Service Medal ribbon show that he had been given the award four times. Arnold is also wearing a Command Pilot aviation badge and his Military Aviator badge. Arnold's Air Corps and Officer insignia are visible on his lapel and collar.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1940
associated date
1941 - 1945
associated person
Chase, Joseph Cummings
Chase, Joseph Cummings
artist
Chase, Joseph Cummings
ID Number
AF.46978
catalog number
46978
accession number
166217
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of three star General Leslie J. McNair in front of a green background. McNair wears a officer pin on the collar of his khaki uniform shirt (with tie). He also wears a peaked cap with the U.S. Coat of Arms cap insignia.
Description
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of three star General Leslie J. McNair in front of a green background. McNair wears a officer pin on the collar of his khaki uniform shirt (with tie). He also wears a peaked cap with the U.S. Coat of Arms cap insignia. Catalogue card reads: "Commander Army Ground Forces, KIA "D" Day WW II".
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1941 - 1945
associated person
Chase, Joseph Cummings
Chase, Joseph Cummings
artist
Chase, Joseph Cummings
ID Number
AF.46996
catalog number
46996
accession number
166217
Mounted gelatin silver print of Edward Weston's Cabbage Leaf, 1931. The photograph was printed by Edward's son Cole Weston from his father's original negative.Edward Weston was influential in the modern photography movement beginning in the 1930s.
Description (Brief)
Mounted gelatin silver print of Edward Weston's Cabbage Leaf, 1931. The photograph was printed by Edward's son Cole Weston from his father's original negative.
Edward Weston was influential in the modern photography movement beginning in the 1930s. He is well known for photographing the natural surroundings of his home on the California coast. Weston created striking works of art, some abstract, some more traditional images. A leader in American photography of the 20th century, Weston's prints were first exhibited at the Smithsonian in 1947. Afterwards, he remained interested in the national photography collection. At times, Weston recommended photographers to curators for collecting opportunities, and eventually donated a selection of his work and several cameras to the Photographic History Collection.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1931
maker - negative
Weston, Edward
ID Number
PG.69.137.02
catalog number
69.137.2
accession number
288850
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of four star General George Smith Patton, Jr. Patton possibly wears a aviation jacket with fur on the collar and a M1 Helmet with four silver stars (indicating his rank of General) with chinstrap.
Description
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of four star General George Smith Patton, Jr. Patton possibly wears a aviation jacket with fur on the collar and a M1 Helmet with four silver stars (indicating his rank of General) with chinstrap. He has a "go-getter" expression and painted in front of a blue/green background.
Location
Currently not on view
associated date
1941 - 1945
depicted (sitter)
Patton, George S.
artist
Chase, Joseph Cummings
ID Number
AF.46999
catalog number
46999
accession number
166217
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Keith L. Ware. Ware wears a olive drab field uniform (with the top few buttons undone and sleeves rolled up above his elbows) and the insignia of a Lieutenant Colonel on his shoulder loops.
Description
Oil on illustration board. Portrait of Lieutenant Colonel Keith L. Ware. Ware wears a olive drab field uniform (with the top few buttons undone and sleeves rolled up above his elbows) and the insignia of a Lieutenant Colonel on his shoulder loops. He wears a silver chain bracelet on his right wrist and holds a granade in his right hand. Ware has wavy brown hair and is clean shaven. His signature in pencil is in the top left corner.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1945
associated date
1941 - 1945
associated person
Chase, Joseph Cummings
Chase, Joseph Cummings
artist
Chase, Joseph Cummings
ID Number
AF.47017
catalog number
47017
accession number
166217

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