Edward Jewett

Edward Jewett was an artist active between 1935 and 1937, whose body of work is primarily associated with the Index of American Designs. This governmental initiative was established during the mid-1930s to document and record historical American decorative, folk, and utilitarian arts. Jewett contributed significantly to this massive project, creating 15 documented index sheets now held in museum collections.

The works demonstrate a precise, documentary approach focused on rendering historical objects with archival clarity, capturing the detail and craftsmanship of period furnishings and implements. Jewett’s documented subjects range widely across domestic and religious forms, including records of pieces such as the Mission Bed, Mission Bench, Stand for Baptismal Font, and decorative elements like a Wall Bracket. Other recorded objects include the functional design of a Warming Pan.

Works attributed to the artist are represented in major institutional holdings, including the extensive archives of the National Gallery of Art. Edward Jewett prints derived from this collection serve as invaluable resources for design historians. Due to their origin within the Index of American Designs, many of these documentary records reside within the public domain, allowing for the availability of high-quality prints of these important artifacts.