Rush Burner Paperweight
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 30.8 x 22.8 cm (12 1/8 x 9 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.12160
Art Historical Context
Gerald Bernhardt's *Rush Burner Paperweight (c. 1936) is a meticulous watercolor and graphite rendering on paper, measuring 30.8 x 22.8 cm. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), this work captures the intricate details of functional folk object—a paperweight modeled after a traditional rush burner, likely evoking early American household tools used for illumination before widespread electricity. Bernhardt's precise draftsmanship highlights the object's whimsical form, textures, and craftsmanship, transforming an everyday utilitarian item into a celebrated artifact of cultural ...