ticketsMember | Make a donation

Indian Vase

Ames Van Wart American
1876
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 760
Van Wart modeled this commanding amphora-shaped sculpture while living in London, in a departure from his usual portrait busts. Its motifs explicitly acknowledge the displacement of Indigenous Americans by Euro-American settlement in the West. One of the figures sitting on the rim looks proudly and confidently into the future, while the other, dejected, seems to reflect on the mistreatment of Native peoples. The main frieze recounts the story of a buffalo hunt—from the departure of the hunter with his weapons to his successful return. Bands of maple and tobacco leaves underscore the intended national symbolism.

Read a Native Perspective on this work.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Indian Vase
  • Artist: Ames Van Wart (American, New York 1841–1927 Paris, France)
  • Date: 1876
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Marble
  • Dimensions: 46 1/2 x 24 x 16 in., 429lb. (118.1 x 61 x 40.6 cm, 194.6kg)
  • Credit Line: Gift of Estate of Marshall O. Roberts, 1897
  • Object Number: 97.10
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Marshall O. Roberts, Ames Van Wart American, Marble, American
Marshall O. Roberts
Ames Van Wart
1884
Center Table, Anthony G. Quervelle American, Mahogany, intarsia marble, brass, American
Center Table
Anthony G. Quervelle
ca. 1830
Antigone Pouring a Libation over the Corpse of Her Brother Polynices, William Henry Rinehart American, Marble, American
Antigone Pouring a Libation over the Corpse of Her Brother Polynices
William Henry Rinehart
1867–70; carved 1870
Charles Loring Elliott, Launt Thompson American, Marble, American
Charles Loring Elliott
Launt Thompson
1870
La Petite Pensée, Thomas Ball American, Marble, American
La Petite Pensée
Thomas Ball
ca. 1867–68; carved 1869

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.