Sidney Liswood

Sidney Liswood was an artist active primarily between 1935 and 1938, whose work is defined by participation in the Index of American Design (IAD). The IAD was a significant governmental initiative established during the New Deal era to create a comprehensive visual record of American material culture, decorative arts, and folk art.

Liswood contributed detailed renderings and documentation to this ambitious archive. Fifteen of Liswood's designs are represented in museum collections, focusing on the careful study of domestic objects and functional design. Works documented include examples of metalwork and surface decoration, such as the studies Pewter Mug, Pewter Pitcher, and Candlestick, alongside multiple renderings of Wallpaper.

The largest institutional repository for Liswood’s documented output is the National Gallery of Art (NGA), which holds the core collection of the Index of American Design. Because these historical documents often fall into the public domain, Liswood’s detailed works are frequently reproduced as high-quality prints for academic and public access. The existence of these records ensures that the historical designs are available as downloadable artwork for researchers studying 20th-century preservation efforts.