Pair Roman Urns, (sculpture).

Pair Roman Urns, (sculpture).

Romanelli Studios, fabricator.

Pair Roman Urns, (sculpture).

Installed 1925-1927.

Digital Reference:

Urns: marble; Bases: stone.

2 urns. Each urn: approx. H. 89 in. x Diam. 40 in.; Each base: approx. H. 32 in.

A pair of identical decorated urns. Each urn has a bowl with an outwardly curving upper rim. Below the rim encircling the bowl is a rope trim. In the middle on each side of the bowl is a female face with long hair in relief. Above the face is a medallion from which emanates a garland of grape leaves and bunches of grapes that trail along each side. Both faces have garlands of leaves in the hair. Circling each urn below the faces are longitudinal leaves in pairs with a berry fruit between the leaves. Below this, spaced around the urn, are large garlands of oak leaves with the tops of each bunch curved out and down. Each urn has a footed pedestal, with leaves and fruit trimming the bottom. Each pedestal rest on a short base. The urns are mounted on square stone laid bases.

Figure female -- Fragment -- Face

Object -- Fruit -- Grape

Object -- Foliage -- Oak

Outdoor Sculpture -- Kansas -- Mission Hills

Decorative arts

Administered by City of Mission Hills, Council, 6300 State Line, Mission Hills, Kansas 66208

Located Belinder Street at 63rd Street, Mission Hills, Kansas

The urns were installed by the J. C. Nichols Company between 1925 and 1927 during its development of the Country Club district in Mission Hills. Beginning in the 1920s, developer J. C. Nichols, and later his son, Miller Nichols, imported and installed sculptures imported from Europe in Mission Hills. The sculptures were given to local homes' associations. J. C. Nichols' plan was to create an urban neighborhood with country estate charms in classical European style. Since that time, the city has taken over the upkeep of the sculptures. During the winter the urns are protected by a canvas cover. In 1985 the urns were broken into many pieces by vandals. The urns were repaired and restored 1987 by art object conservator Mayda Jensen. In 1994 the urns were cleaned. For related reading see Madelyn Voights' "Mission Hills, Reflections on the Past and Present," Kansas City, MO: Mission Hills Homes Company, Lowell Press, 1987.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Kansas survey, 1994.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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