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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Ship-Carver's Sign
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Ship-Carver's Sign

Object numberMO 1944.105.1.3
Name Painting
Artist (American, 1899 - 1985)
Dateca. 1930s
Mediumpaper, watercolor, ink
Dimensionsmat (mat folder closed) H 20 in x W 16 in (50.8 cm x 40.6 cm )
 mat (mat folder open) H 20 in x W 32 1/8 in (50.8 cm x 81.6 cm )
DescriptionAn original watercolor painting of a ship carver's sign. It shows a three-masted ship in full sail, surrounded by an elaborately carved scroll work painted gold. The painting is matted within a paper folder. On the page opposite the painting is information text regarding the figurehead.

The piece is housed in a series portfolio (see MO 1944.105.1.1b).
Label TextThis watercolor painting was created for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Index of American Design. It is based on an original painting by Dorothy Hay and depicts a ship carver's sign made by William L. Seavey of Bangor, Maine for his shop.

The watercolor painting is part of a collection (MO 1944.05.1.1-6) of original watercolor paintings by WPA Index of American Design artists. The paintings are stored in a pair of portfolios made by the Milwaukee Handicraft Project, sponsored by the Milwaukee County and Milwaukee State Teachers College, Wisconsin Art Project, Federal Art Project, Works Progress Administration. The portfolios and paintings were presented to President Roosevelt by the artists of the Index of American Design.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteThe item was sent by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the FDR Library on February 2, 1944. It was formally donated to the FDR Library in 1947 through FDR's Estate.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesPrints and Paintings (National Archives Identifier 778817)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
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Non exposé