Mildred E. Bent

Mildred E. Bent was an artist active circa 1935, whose documented output is exclusively tied to the Index of American Design, a massive federal project established to document and preserve examples of historic American decorative and folk arts. This unique context positions Bent primarily as a meticulous documentarian and renderer of antique craft forms.

Bent contributed 15 documented entries to the Index of American Design archive. Her focus was on detailed studies of domestic items and textile crafts, emphasizing geometric and functional design. Among the works represented in museum collections are specific renderings of objects such as the Apple Dish and multiple detailed studies of Applique Quilt patterns. These illustrations served as records for designs that might otherwise have been lost.

Mildred E. Bent’s historical work is preserved and held in institutional collections, notably the National Gallery of Art. Due to the nature of the Index of American Design, many of these renderings, including Mildred E. Bent prints, are now part of the public domain. This accessibility allows researchers and collectors to obtain high-quality prints and downloadable artwork based on her meticulous documentation.