Are the large bronze vases by Carl Milles? How did they come to be here?
Yes, they are by Carl Milles, what a good eye! They were actually purchased from the artist's estate by the Brooklyn Museum.
Is Carl Milles a favorite artist of yours? I'm always impressed when people can name an artist - especially looking at something so far away!
There are a pair of his urns at my husband's school, Cranbrook, in Michigan. They made quite an impression on us!
Oh wow, that's amazing! I'm glad you found more here, as well. We also have a sculpture by Milles, 'Europa and the Bull,' now on view in the Beaux-Arts Court on the 3rd floor. Milles created many works for gardens especially those in his native Sweden. His work was often inspired by classical sculpture following his long sojourn in Italy. Here the swimming figures, fish and sea animals suggest that these vases might have been created for garden by the water.
That's at Cranbrook, too! He was artist in residence there at the same time Sarinen did the architecture.
Very interesting, I had no idea!