Tin Teapot c. 1938

James McLellan rendered this tin teapot in watercolor, probably sometime in the early to mid-twentieth century. Now, one might ask, why paint a teapot? McLellan was associated with the Index of American Design, a project of the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. The Index employed artists to create a visual survey of American decorative arts and folk art. The aim was to celebrate the ingenuity of American craftspeople and to foster a sense of national identity during a time of economic hardship. This image preserves the design of a common, everyday object, elevating it to the status of art. The meticulous detail and careful rendering transform a humble teapot into a symbol of American creativity and resourcefulness. By studying the Index of American Design and other historical documents, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and cultural values that shaped American art and design during the Depression era. The teapot becomes more than just a vessel, it becomes a window into the past.