Flora Merchant

Flora Merchant was active circa 1935, primarily as a contributor to the Index of American Design. This initiative, established under the Federal Art Project, focused on the meticulous documentation and preservation of American material culture, decorative arts, and folk craft. Merchant’s work emphasizes the accurate rendering of three-dimensional historical objects.

Fifteen of the artist's renderings are represented in museum collections, confirming the importance of their contribution to the federal documentation project. These works are permanently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The documented subjects reflect a focus on historical maritime and commercial sculpture, including three distinct renderings titled Cigar Store Indian.

Further examples of documentation held by the National Gallery of Art include detailed studies of architectural features, such as Architectural Ornament (City of Boston), and specialized maritime carvings, specifically the Billethead from Frigate "Sabine". The documentation completed by Flora Merchant and colleagues ensured that records of these unique American objects were preserved, often placing the original artwork into the public domain. Today, Flora Merchant prints of these historical renderings are valued resources for academics and collectors seeking high-quality prints of historical folk art.