Tin Wall Sconce c. 1939

Luther D. Wenrich created this watercolor and graphite drawing of a Tin Wall Sconce, but we don't know exactly when. Wenrich was an American artist, and he was invested in the visual culture of early America. He drew furniture, pottery, and metalwork. The sconce that he drew here might have been a common household object in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its materials would have been relatively cheap, and the star decoration at the top may have been a sign of American identity. Sconces like these illuminate the domestic spaces of early America. The drawing itself might be related to the Arts and Crafts movement that emerged in the United States in the late 19th century. Artists and craftspeople wanted to produce beautiful objects and return to pre-industrial modes of production. It's a great task for art historians to investigate where Wenrich exhibited, who his influences were, and how images like this connect to his broader social and cultural context.