Zabelle Missirian

Zabelle Missirian was an artist and renderer whose documented active period spanned 1939 through 1941. Their known output is directly associated with the Index of American Design, a federal arts initiative focused on compiling a comprehensive visual record of American decorative arts, craft, and folk art.

Missirian's contribution to the Index is represented by five works held in major museum collections, documenting a range of functional and ornamental historical objects. These renderings emphasize vernacular design and utility, including studies of a Wooden Weather Vane, a Chalkware Dog, and a Steer Weather Vane. Another significant documentation effort is the drawing of the Garden Figure - George Washington.

These five historically important works are preserved in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. The precision and detail of these documents establish Zabelle Missirian's role in the preservation of American material culture. As documents generated under a federal project, the works related to the artist are often considered part of the public domain, making them available as high-quality prints and downloadable artwork for research purposes.