Warming Pan c. 1936

Filippo Porreca created this image of a warming pan without a date, using watercolor and graphite. As a draftsman for the Index of American Design, Porreca documented American material culture in the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Index of American Design was a WPA program, that sought to record and preserve examples of American decorative and folk arts. The warming pan depicted here, likely dating to the 18th or 19th century, reflects a time before central heating, when beds were warmed with hot coals placed inside such pans. This image captures both the utilitarian function and the decorative details of the object. This tells us that everyday objects were often crafted with artistic expression. Understanding the social and economic context of the time helps us appreciate the ingenuity and resourcefulness of earlier generations, as well as the cultural values they placed on both practicality and beauty. To further understand the context of this artwork, research into the history of the Index of American Design and the material culture of early America would be invaluable.