Rolland Livingstone

Rolland Livingstone maintained an active professional career spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, operating primarily between 1855 and 1936. Livingstone’s verifiable output focuses heavily on documentation related to American decorative arts and folk craftsmanship. This work is centrally tied to the Index of American Designs, a federal initiative dedicated to recording historically significant American artifacts.

Fifteen documented works attributed to Livingstone are associated with this Index. The subject matter typically centers on functional objects and regional furniture, providing visual records of items such as a Pennsylvania German Candle Box, an Armchair, and multiple renderings of Chair and Chest designs. These detailed records establish the importance of these vernacular objects and preserve their design elements for posterity.

The institutional significance of Livingstone’s documentation is underscored by its presence in major collections, notably the National Gallery of Art. The nature of these records, often preserved as prints or photographic plates, ensures their continued availability for scholarly review. Today, the design records documented by Livingstone frequently fall into the public domain, offering historians and researchers downloadable artwork for study. These historical records allow access to high-quality prints of significant American craft designs.