Orville Cline

Orville Cline was an artist active during the crucial six-year period spanning 1935 to 1941. His documented output is associated with the Index of American Designs, a New Deal initiative focused on meticulously recording American material culture and folk art traditions.

Thirteen of Cline’s documentary works are held in institutional collections, most notably at the National Gallery of Art. These pieces reflect a detailed focus on early American craftsmanship, particularly items related to the Shaker community. Notable works represented include studies of the Shaker Grandmother Clock, Shaker Visionary Image, and Shaker Baskets. Cline also cataloged secular folk objects such as the Cigar Store Indian and the Doll Cradle. Today, documentation studies by Orville Cline are often available as high-quality prints, forming valuable historical records now entering the public domain. These detailed Orville Cline prints provide essential visual data for the study of 20th century American preservation efforts.