Wallet

Art Historical Context

This delicate rendering of a wallet by Thomas Holloway captures the humble yet intricate craftsmanship of early American leatherwork. Created around 1936 as part of the Index of American Design, a federal project under the Works Progress Administration, the watercolor documents everyday objects from the nation’s past. The original wallet, measuring just six inches high and seven-and-a-half inches wide, likely dates to the nineteenth century and reflects the practical artistry of anonymous makers who combined utility with decorative detail. Holloway employed watercolor, graphite, and gouache o...