G.A. Spangenberg

G.A. Spangenberg was an artist active during a concentrated period, 1935 through 1939, whose documented output focuses on the visual rendering of American material culture. This highly specific chronological scope and subject matter aligns with the objectives of federal arts programs dedicated to the archival preservation of historical design. The artist is credited with 15 design documents indexed in major collections.

Spangenberg’s work primarily centers on the meticulous depiction of decorative and functional objects. Examples of the documented pieces preserved in museum collections include the renderings for a Bitters Bottle (Indian), a Gen. Washington Flask, and an Indian Maiden Bitters Bottle. Other representative works illustrating the variety of subjects recorded include a Scarf and a Whiskey Flask.

Fifteen of the G.A. Spangenberg prints documenting these artifacts are held by major American institutions, most notably the National Gallery of Art (NGA). Due to their historical context and origin, many of these design renderings are available in the public domain, facilitating access to high-quality prints and downloadable artwork for scholarly and interpretive use. The works offer museum-quality documentation of early American decorative arts.