Samuel Philpot

Samuel Philpot was active in documenting American decorative arts and folk crafts during a brief but focused period between 1939 and 1942. His specialized output, identified as "index of american designs," reflects a rigorous effort to visually preserve unique examples of historical Americana through detailed renderings.

Philpot’s known oeuvre consists of six documented works represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. These pieces illustrate diverse subjects reflecting 18th and 19th-century material culture, often providing museum-quality documentation of specific items. Subjects include functional and decorative objects such as a Ship Figurehead, a Ship Lantern, a Pa. German Chest, and a Cigar Store Indian. A detailed rendering of a Valentine is also among the works attributed to him.

The precise, highly detailed nature of the documentation produced by Samuel Philpot is highly valued for historical research. Today, the work he contributed is typically considered part of the public domain, making high-quality prints and downloadable artwork widely accessible for study and exhibition.