Howard Lumbard

Howard Lumbard was active as an artist primarily during the late 1930s, with documented output spanning the period between 1935 and 1939. Their known body of work relates directly to the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project initiative established to create a comprehensive pictorial survey of American decorative arts, folk objects, and utilitarian implements.

Lumbard's contribution to the project consists of ten documented designs or plates held in museum collections. These highly detailed studies focus on material culture, documenting objects with historical or functional significance. Specific pieces represented in the archives include the renderings Carpet Stretcher, Whale Oil Ship Lamp, Adjustable Candle Holder, Candle Holder, and Chintz Square. All currently cataloged works are held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art (NGA).

As governmental commissions, the detailed documentation produced by the artist, such as various Howard Lumbard prints and drawings, often resides in the public domain. These works are frequently utilized by historians and researchers, providing insight into early American craftsmanship and design. Today, these historical studies are often reproduced as museum-quality illustrations and available as high-quality prints.