A.R. Tolman

A.R. Tolman was an artist active in 1935, associated primarily with the Index of American Designs. This extensive government initiative focused on the accurate visual documentation of American decorative and folk arts, capturing objects ranging from everyday domestic items to specialized artifacts.

Tolman’s output, represented by eight recorded designs within museum collections, demonstrates a meticulous attention to texture, form, and material quality necessary for objective documentation. The surviving work is preserved in the collections of the National Gallery of Art.

The designs by A.R. Tolman are valuable examples of early 20th-century documentation of American material culture. Known entries in this catalog include studies of utilitarian objects such as Candle Snuffer, Copper Kettle, Iron, One Gallon Jug, and the highly specific rendering of the Oregon Boot Satchel.

Due to their historical significance and institutional holdings, A.R. Tolman’s prints are frequently studied and disseminated. These detailed works are often available as high-quality prints, contributing to scholarship regarding the material history documented by the Index of American Designs. Many of these historical records now reside within the public domain, ensuring widespread accessibility.