Lionel Ritchey

Lionel Ritchey was active during a brief but focused period from 1939 to 1940, contributing five documented works to the Index of American Design. This project, undertaken during the Federal Art Project, aimed to create a comprehensive pictorial record of American material culture and decorative arts spanning the colonial era through the nineteenth century.

Ritchey’s documented contributions focus on functional and decorative artifacts, indicating a specialization in the careful documentation of folk crafts. Five of the works attributed to Ritchey are preserved in the National Gallery of Art (NGA) collections. These studies include detailed renderings such as the Knife Sharpener, the Wooden Doll, and documentation of ornamental elements, including Wood Carving - Flower and two distinct studies titled Wood Carving - Scroll.

As objects created for the Index of American Design, the works captured by Lionel Ritchey prints are often classified as public domain documentation. This status allows for the widespread accessibility of these historical records. Today, these high-quality prints serve as essential resources for historians studying American decorative traditions and craft evolution.