Vanishing Frontier: Rookwood, Farny And The American Indian

Cincinnati, Ohio

:Highly regarded and long collected, the American art pottery fashioned by Rookwood and the renderings laid down on canvas by Henry Farny (American, 1847–1916) — both adorned with painterly images of American Indians — played an influential role in shaping the romantic myths of American Indian culture. Fresh from the kiln and easel, these works of art created as much excitement in the late Nineteenth Century as they do in today's aggressive antiques collecting venues.

Uniquely documenting this phenomenon is the exhibition "Vanishing Frontier: Rookwood, Farny and The American Indian" on view at the Cincinnati Art Museum through January 20. Stunning ceramic portraits from the James J. Gardner collection of Rookwood and exquisite Farny opaque watercolors from the museum's holdings, as well as private collections, offer a compelling view of the American Indian during the final days of the frontier.

Initially conceived as two separate exhibitions, the Farny paintings and the Rookwood pots complemented one another, and, when combined, completed the story of Cincinnati's interaction with the Native Americans and settlers of the region. The exhibition is co-curated by Anita Ellis and Susan Labry Meyn.

"Henry Farny Paints The Far West" features 39 historically important paintings, while "Rookwood and The American Indian: Masterpieces From The American Art Pottery Collection of James J. Gardner" presents 52 Rookwood portrait vases.

The Gardner Collection

"Vanishing Frontiers" has already earned accolades as a landmark exhibition. The Gardner portion of the exhibition has achieved status on several fronts, not only as an historically important overview of Rookwood production, but also as the first exhibition dedicated exclusively to Rookwood's American Indian subject matter. The aesthetically pleasing Gardner collection is widely regarded as the foremost collection of Rookwood portrait pottery.

While many will be satisfied merely with the opportunity to view this exquisite selection of pottery, the catalog complements it, delving into deeper subjects. An informative essay by Meyn focuses on the history of the American Indian in Cincinnati from the time of the first settlers through the dawning of the Twentieth Century. Ellis's essay will be of interest to all Rookwood collectors, as it thoroughly explores the pottery's fascination with the American Indian. It also presents a comprehensive overview of the activities at Rookwood during this period, and it delves into the economic implications the company faced.