Alton K. Skillin

Alton K. Skillin was active in American art documentation between 1935 and 1937. His known artistic output is associated with the Index of American Design, a New Deal-era federal art project dedicated to the meticulous recording of historical American folk, decorative, and industrial arts. Skillin’s contributions focused primarily on documenting maritime carvings and sculptural wooden figures, functioning as precise visual records of artifacts that often predate the documentation effort.

Seven documented designs attributed to Skillin are held in institutional collections, establishing him as a contributing draftsman to this important historical archive. Examples of the artifacts recorded by Skillin include the detailed renderings of a Cigar Store Indian, the Figurehead from Schooner "Polly", and the impressive Figurehead: "Belle of Bath". Further documented works include a Stern Board and a close-up rendering of a Carved Cat Head (Detail). These archival drawings are permanently represented in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Because of their origin in federal projects, many of the original Skillin designs are in the public domain, allowing for the creation of high-quality prints and other reproductions. Researchers and collectors interested in American decorative arts can readily locate detailed Alton K. Skillin prints today.