Landon-Era Birdbath (Indianapolis)

Birdbath

Artist	Unknown, American
Year	Early 20th century
Type	Fieldstone and concrete
Dimensions	91 cm × 61 cm × 61 cm (36 in × 24 in × 24 in)
Location	Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, Indiana
Coordinates	39°49′45.46″N 86°10′59.94″W / 39.8292944°N 86.1833167°W / 39.8292944; -86.1833167
Owner	Indianapolis Museum of Art

Birdbath, constructed of fieldstone and concrete, is an early 20th-century decorative feature on the historic Oldfields estate on the campus of the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA), in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is now an accessioned work of art in the collection of the IMA.^[1]^[2]

Description

This birdbath is constructed of large, smooth stones laid in concentric, circular tiers, set in a thick concrete mortar. The large basin of the bath curves out from a more cylindrical pedestal that slopes out a bit toward the ground. The overall silhouette resembles a chalice. The basin is lined with a coating of concrete and has been re-lined at least once. The most recent layer is made from concrete with a larger aggregate than the finer concrete used throughout the birdbath.

There is no drainage or circulation system built into the bath.^[2]

Historical information

The grounds of Oldfields were landscaped by Percival Gallagher of the Olmsted Brothers in the 1920s; the birdbath presumably predates the Olmsted landscape. 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. Birdbath was assigned Accession Number LH2001.233.

Provenance

An undated Landon-era photograph (archived at the IMA) indicates that this birdbath has been on the Oldfields estate since the Landon era and possibly since before Gallagher’s landscaping.

Nothing is known of its maker or origins. However, the materials are very similar to the original fountain base in the Formal Garden, which was constructed of similar fieldstone and concrete. (This can also be seen in historic photographs.) These may have been made from local materials, and perhaps they were built by the same person.^[2]

Location history

This birdbath has been on the Oldfields estate since the Landon era, when it was positioned in the middle of the scenic path along the property-bordering canal (as shown in an undated Landon-era photograph).^[3]^[4]

By 1990 the birdbath was moved for protection from traffic, as the canal path has become a utility road for IMA groundskeeping. The birdbath is now located near the path to the grounds barn.^[2]

Condition

The sculpture is monitored, cleaned, and treated regularly by the IMA art conservation staff.^[5]

References

↑ "Collections Database". Indianapolis Museum of Art. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
1 2 3 4 Langdon, Katherine (2011), The Outdoor Sculptures of Oldfields: A Report for the Objects and Variable Art Laboratory at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN: Indianapolis Museum of Art
↑ O'Donnell, Patricia; Fairbanks, Jonathan; Hohmann, Heidi (1996), Oldfields: Estate Sculpture & Horticulture Study- Intent, Settings, Character & Recommendations., Heritage Landscapes
↑ Schleif, Carolyn Marie (1989), Oldfields: An Historic Structures Report., Muncie, IN: College of Architecture and Planning, Ball State University
↑ Indianapolis Museum of Art. Birdbath, Acc. # LH2001.233. 2011 Conservation Condition and Treatment Reports. Retrieved from Indianapolis Museum of Art Conservation Archives January 19, 2011.

Indianapolis Museum of Art

Significant
Artworks

African Art	Face mask Senufo female ancestor figure Magbo helmet mask for Oro society Palace plaque depicting warrior Guardian figure Healing of Abiku Children

American Painting and Sculpture to 1945	Afternoon Tea Cliff Rock--Appledore Dorothy Hotel Lobby Hurricane Jimson Weed Morning at Grand Manan Preparing for the Matinee Red Kimono on the Roof Reflections Sunlight The Boat Builders The Flight of Europa The Love Song The Rainbow Tidying Up U.S.A. Untitled (The Birth)

Asian Art	Bowl with two violet spots Cong-shaped vase Covered jar with carp design Fine Wind, Clear Morning Ksitigarbha bodhisattva Ritual wine server Shigaraki ware storage jar Vase with carved peony scrolls Vase with nine peach design

Contemporary Art	Acton Courre Merlan Egyptian Barnyard LOVE painting LOVE (sculpture) The Quintet of the Silent They Waz Nice White Folks While They Lasted (Sez One Gal to Another) Untitled Landfield Untitled Judd Untitled Irwin

Decorative Arts	Angel of the Resurrection Coffee service High chest of drawers Portland Vase Side chair

European Painting and Sculpture to 1945	Aristotle Battle Between Carnival and Lent Breton Women at a Wall Broek in Waterland Charing Cross Bridge Crucifix Crucifixion Enclosed Field with Peasant Entry of Christ into Jerusalem Entry of Christ into Jerusalem House in Provence Landscape near Arles Ma Jolie Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist and St. Mary Magdalene Man and Woman Peasant with a Wheelbarrow Rebecca and Eliezer at the Well Roman Capriccio: The Pantheon and Other Monuments Self-Portrait Rembrandt Still Life with a Chinese Porcelain Jar Still Life with Profile of Laval The Banks of the Oise near Pontoise The Boy The Channel of Gravelines, Petit Fort Philippe The Country Dance The Crucifixion Cranach The Fifth Plague of Egypt The Flageolet Player on the Cliff The Flight into Egypt The Holy Family with Saint John the Baptist The House of the Deaf Woman and the Belfry at Eragny The Negress The Seamstress The Triumphant Entry of Constantine into Rome The Two Sisters The Valkhof at Nijmegen Triptych of the Annunciation Vorhor, the Green Wave

Art of the Americas	Haida ceremonial dance rattle

Oceanic Art	Helmet mask (Tatanua)

Prints, Drawings, and Photographs	Blasting St. Vincent's Rock, Clifton Boreas and Oreithyia Galinthias Outwits Eileithyia by Announcing the Birth of Heracles Mother (Mutter) Moulin Rouge: La Goulue The Holy Family with the Dragonfly Young Woman in Blue

Textile and Fashion Arts	Moroccan wall hanging Chinese Souls #2 Eli Lilly Family Quilt Evening dress Woman's apron Sumbanese woman's ceremonial skirt

Outdoor
Artworks
by location

Museum Grounds	Above and Below La Hermana del Hombre Bóveda LOVE Memories of Prague Mother and Child Numbers 1-0 Snowplow Stumbling Man Sutphin Fountain Two Figures Two Lines Oblique Down, Variation III

Oldfields	Copy of Diana of Versailles Diana with Dog Female and Male Herm Fountain Four Seasons Landon-Era Birdbath Mother and Child (Gordine) Nymph and Fawn Sundial, Boy With Spider The Three Graces' Pair of Urns

100 Acres	Bench Around the Lake Eden II Free Basket Funky Bones Indianapolis Island Park of Laments Stratum Pier Team Building

Artworks on loan	East Gate/West Gate Mega-Gem Portrait of History Sewall Memorial Torches Spaces with Iron

De-accessioned Artworks	Broken Walrus II Holistic Image VIII Weather Tower

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