Hi Permies, I am an artist who has a non professional interest in depictions of simple human technologies depicted in art. I will post a few things I find here, unless I am re-directed to another section. (I am aware of copyright issues and all the images a posted under fair use).
Eastman Johnson (American, 1824-1906)
The New Bonnet
The-New-Bonnet.jpg
Eastman Johnson (American, 1824-1906) The New Bonnet
Beehouse.jpg
10 October-Savatii Beehouse. Isaac Ilyich Levitan (1860-1900) Isaak Work Bee. The second half of the 1880 's Papier-Pellet, watercolor, graphite, whitewash. 22 x 34 cm, Russian Museum
I should add that when I look at these paintings I am more looking at the objects/construction. One thing that you can usually count on when artists paint in a realist style is that they are good observers. They may not know how to construct a door hinge, or oven but the depiction is usually quite faithful.