Therkel Anderson

Therkel Anderson was active as an artist and documentarian during the short but prolific period of 1936 to 1938. Their primary output is associated with the Index of American Design (IAD), a Depression-era federal arts project dedicated to creating detailed, high-quality visual records of historically significant American decorative arts, crafts, and folk objects.

Anderson’s work consists of precise, technical renderings of furnishings and domestic objects. Thirteen of their designs related to the Index of American Design are represented in museum collections. These documented artifacts include multiple designs for the Quilt, along with specific furniture pieces such as the Early Dayton Chair and the Hitchcock Armchair. Such meticulous documentation ensures the preservation of these cultural artifacts.

The work of Therkel Anderson is preserved in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Today, these historical documents are often available as downloadable artwork and high-quality prints, providing museum-quality resources that are frequently accessible in the public domain.