End of the Trail / James Earle Fraser

Gallery Label

Fraser produced this iconic sculpture simultaneously at the Gorham foundry by the “plaster-mold” technique and at the Roman Bronze Works by lost-wax in the late teens and twenties. Fraser’s records suggest that Gorham cast five in one size in the first year of production. This series code QAZA, which is found on the base, was first assigned March 6, 1918, and all subsequent casts were so marked.

From the exhibition:Frontier to Foundry: the Making of Small Bronze Sculpture in the Gilcrease Collection, December 2014 - March 2015.
Ann Boulton Young, Associate Conservator for the Gilcrease Museum, 2014.

Curatorial Remarks

Originally in mark(s) field; "(the first two are illegible). (I believe the first panel is a G with an animal in the middle panel and a C in the last panel –compare to the legible mark like this on the Proctor Indian Warrior 0876.79.)"

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Art Item Information

©Gilcrease Museum

Title(s):

End of the Trail

Creator(s):

James Earle Fraser (Artist)

Gorham Manufacturing Company (Artist)

Culture:

American

Date:

modeled 1918; plaster-mold cast between 1918 and 1930

Materials/Techniques:

plaster-mold cast in bronze

Classification:

Sculpture

Object Type:

Bronze Sculpture

Accession No:

08.146

Previous Number(s):

0827.146; 30270

Department:

Art

Not On View

Dimensions

Overall:

Height: 44in. (111.8cm)
Width: 37 1/4in. (94.6cm)
Depth: 11 1/2in. (29.2cm)

About the Creator(s)

From Gilcrease Museum:

Creator:

James Earle Fraser

Biography:

Fraser produced the iconic sculpture, End of the Trail (0827.146), simultaneously at the Gorham foundry by the “plaster-mold” technique and at the Roman Bronze Works by lost wax in the late teens and twenties. Fraser’s records suggest that Gorham cast five in one size in the first year of production. This series code QAZA (look for it on the base) was first assigned March 6, 1918, and all subsequent casts were so marked. Fraser earned a 33 1/3 % commission ($200) on the wholesale price of $600 for each sale in Gorham’s New York sales gallery with the remainder representing the production cost. In 1925 the sculpture was selling in their sales gallery for $1200 retail. In contrast Roman Bronze Works’ cost for the production of their large size bronze exhibited nearby was $280. The price difference was in part due to the use of less bronze.

From the exhibition:Frontier to Foundry: the Making of Small Bronze Sculpture in the Gilcrease Collection, December 2014 - March 2015.Ann Boulton Young, Associate Conservator for the Gilcrease Museum, 2014.

Role(s):

Artist

From Getty's Union List of Artist Names:

Names (all):

Fraser, James Earle

Birth Date:

1876

Death Date:

1953

Nationalities:

American (North American)

Roles:

American medalist and sculptor, 1876-1953

Gender:

male

Events:

active (professional function)

Note:

Comment on works: sculptor; medalist

From Gilcrease Museum:

Creator:

Gorham Manufacturing Company

Role(s):

Artist

Marks and Inscriptions

Marks: Marked, ©Fraser 1918 (cast through from model); Stamped, "Gorham Co. Founders QAZA" (after casting); Stamped with three panel hallmark (after casting)

Inscriptions: Inscribed, "C" on last panel; Inscribed in white chalk or crayon, "A6129" on bottom of base

Signed: Signed, "FRASER 1918"

Cite this Page

Fraser, James. End of the Trail. 08.146. modeled 1918; plaster-mold cast between 1918 and 1930. Tulsa: Gilcrease Museum, https://collections.gilcrease.org/object/08146 (02/12/2019).

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