Jack Staloff

Jack Staloff was an artist whose documented professional activity centered strictly around the years 1935 and 1936. His known output stems from the period of the New Deal, specifically his contributions to the 15 Index of American Designs, a vast federally funded project focused on documenting historic American decorative and folk arts. Active for only a short time, Staloff specialized in rendering detailed studies of early American metalwork and design.

Five distinct works representing his precise documentation are held in institutional collections. The National Gallery of Art, a key repository for the Index of American Design, preserves examples of Staloff’s work, including detailed illustrations of functional objects such as Candlestick, Sconce, and the hearth accessories Andiron and Fireplace Equipment.

The importance of Staloff’s contribution lies in the accuracy of his depictions of historical objects, preserving visual records of craftsmanship that might otherwise have been lost. Today, these historical documents often fall into the public domain. This categorization makes it possible for researchers and collectors to access high-quality prints derived from the original studies. The archival precision found in these historical Jack Staloff prints remains a valuable resource for material culture studies.