Urns (Indianapolis)
Encyclopedia
Urns are a set of monumental limestone urns that serve as ornamental sculpture
on the grounds of the historic Oldfields
estate, located on the campus of the Indianapolis Museum of Art
(IMA), in Indianapolis
, Indiana
.
, as they have no neck and a wide opening) is placed atop a tall, square limestone base. Distinguished by IMA accession number, the urn designated LH2001.234 is positioned on the north side of the Grand Allée, opposite its pendant (i.e., partner within the set), LH2001.235, located on the south side. The two urns have identical form and design, but the foot of LH2001.234 is a simplified replacement element.
The original design, still entirely present on LH2001.235, is as follows. The bottom of the bowl is approximately a hemisphere decorated with a radiating petal motif, and at the top of this form the sides contract slightly to extend upwards in a conical shape, gradually widening and then flaring out at the rim. Two matching goat heads project from opposite sides of the urn as metamorphosed handles, each overlapping the two sections of the bowl. Each goat has a flowing beard and two large horns that curl back to connect with the side of the urn. A grape-vine design with intertwining leaves, branches, and grape clusters circles the upper portion of the urn just under the rim.
The foot, made from a separate block of stone, tapers in somewhat conically from a square block, up to a small outward flare, upon which the narrow connection point of the bowl is positioned. The lowest circular edge of the pedestal and the top of the flare are decorated with an egg-and-dart
pattern. LH2001.234's replacement foot is turned
in the same way but lacks the egg-and-dart molding.
There is a drain hole built into each, exiting between the bottom of the pedestal and the base on the proper left side (of LH2001.235) or proper right side (LH2001.235). Because the urns are symmetrical the designation of these sides is arbitrary, based on their orientation at the Oldfields estate. There is no difference in form.
The opening at the top of each is roofed by an aluminum cover to keep out water and debris.
in the 1920s. The property and all sculptures on it were donated to the IMA by the family of former Oldfields owner Josiah K. Lilly, Jr., in 1967. In 2001 the outdoor sculptures were assessed, and eighteen selected pieces were accessioned into the IMA’s Lilly House collection. The Urns were assigned Accession Numbers LH2001.234 and LH.2001.235.
Nothing is known of the maker or origin of these two urns. A historic landscape report by O’Donnell et al. points out the similarity between these urns and a pair from the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris
, including a reference drawing of the latter.
The current installation has the goat heads incorrectly oriented perpendicularly to the line of sight from the Lilly House, i.e., North-South. Prior to the 2006 treatment the heads were aligned East-West.
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
on the grounds of the historic Oldfields
Oldfields
Oldfields also known as Lilly House and Gardens, is a 26 acre historic estate and house museum on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The estate, an example of the American country house movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was...
estate, located on the campus of the Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indianapolis Museum of Art
The Indianapolis Museum of Art is an encyclopedic art museum located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The museum, which underwent a $74 million expansion in 2005, is located on a campus on the near northwest area outside downtown Indianapolis, northwest of Crown Hill Cemetery.The...
(IMA), in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
Description
Each of these monumental footed urns (technically kratersKrater
A krater was a large vase used to mix wine and water in Ancient Greece.-Form and function:...
, as they have no neck and a wide opening) is placed atop a tall, square limestone base. Distinguished by IMA accession number, the urn designated LH2001.234 is positioned on the north side of the Grand Allée, opposite its pendant (i.e., partner within the set), LH2001.235, located on the south side. The two urns have identical form and design, but the foot of LH2001.234 is a simplified replacement element.
The original design, still entirely present on LH2001.235, is as follows. The bottom of the bowl is approximately a hemisphere decorated with a radiating petal motif, and at the top of this form the sides contract slightly to extend upwards in a conical shape, gradually widening and then flaring out at the rim. Two matching goat heads project from opposite sides of the urn as metamorphosed handles, each overlapping the two sections of the bowl. Each goat has a flowing beard and two large horns that curl back to connect with the side of the urn. A grape-vine design with intertwining leaves, branches, and grape clusters circles the upper portion of the urn just under the rim.
The foot, made from a separate block of stone, tapers in somewhat conically from a square block, up to a small outward flare, upon which the narrow connection point of the bowl is positioned. The lowest circular edge of the pedestal and the top of the flare are decorated with an egg-and-dart
Egg-and-dart
Egg-and-dart or Egg-and-tongue is an ornamental device often carved in wood, stone, or plaster quarter-round ovolo mouldings, consisting of an egg-shaped object alternating with an element shaped like an arrow, anchor or dart. Egg-and-dart enrichment of the ovolo molding of the Ionic capital is...
pattern. LH2001.234's replacement foot is turned
Turning
Turning is the process whereby a single point cutting tool is parallel to the surface. It can be done manually, in a traditional form of lathe, which frequently requires continuous supervision by the operator, or by using a computer controlled and automated lathe which does not. This type of...
in the same way but lacks the egg-and-dart molding.
There is a drain hole built into each, exiting between the bottom of the pedestal and the base on the proper left side (of LH2001.235) or proper right side (LH2001.235). Because the urns are symmetrical the designation of these sides is arbitrary, based on their orientation at the Oldfields estate. There is no difference in form.
The opening at the top of each is roofed by an aluminum cover to keep out water and debris.
Historical information
The grounds of Oldfields were landscaped by Percival Gallagher of the Olmsted BrothersOlmsted Brothers
The Olmsted Brothers company was an influential landscape design firm in the United States, formed in 1898 by stepbrothers John Charles Olmsted and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. .-History:...
in the 1920s. The property and all sculptures on it were donated to the IMA by the family of former Oldfields owner Josiah K. Lilly, Jr., in 1967. In 2001 the outdoor sculptures were assessed, and eighteen selected pieces were accessioned into the IMA’s Lilly House collection. The Urns were assigned Accession Numbers LH2001.234 and LH.2001.235.
Provenance
Monumental urns developed from archaic Greek funerary practices. Such large, ceramic vessels were used as cinerary urns or as grave markers. By the neoclassical period the urn developed into an architectural element as well as a free-standing marker, usually in a pair to demarcate a liminal space, as here.Nothing is known of the maker or origin of these two urns. A historic landscape report by O’Donnell et al. points out the similarity between these urns and a pair from the Jardin des Tuileries in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, including a reference drawing of the latter.
Acquisition
It is not known with certainty when this sculpture set was first brought to the Oldfields estate, but it is documented in historic photographs from the Landon era.Location history
This urn and LH2001.235 are part of Gallagher’s original design of the Grand Allée; except for during the conservation repairs of 2006 they have not been moved from this location.The current installation has the goat heads incorrectly oriented perpendicularly to the line of sight from the Lilly House, i.e., North-South. Prior to the 2006 treatment the heads were aligned East-West.