An important piece of Cambridge City culture and history will soon head to Washington, D.C. for viewing by visitors from around the world, according to the town’s librarian.
Karen Bays-Winslow, director of Cambridge City Public Library, said the Smithsonian American Art Museum asked to borrow a vase made by one of the town’s nationally known Overbeck Sisters.
Smithsonian staff sent a letter to the library announcing an exhibition titled “The State Fair” to mark the occasion of the United States semiquincentennial, celebrating 250 years, in 2026 at the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery.
Renwick Gallery curators requested the loan of Mary Frances Overbeck’s vase with deer, circa 1939.
The vase can be seen locally until mid-June.
“You can visit our wonderful Overbeck pottery and fine art collection at the library and wish the vase with deer safe travels,” Bays-Winslow said.
Although a shipping date is not yet known, Bays-Winslow said a Smithsonian-hired professional photographer spent about two hours with the vase recently, taking pictures from all kinds of angles with various lighting equipment and cameras.
Overbeck’s vase will be on display at the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery from Aug. 22, 2025, through Sept. 7, 2026.
It will then return to the Overbeck Museum, which is inside the library, 600 W. Main St., Cambridge City.
“These works are pivotal to the exhibition because they are significant examples of ceramics made by a woman for a state fair competition,” wrote Stephanie Stebich of the Smithsonian.
Overbeck won 18 “First Premium” blue ribbons at Indiana’s state fairs from 1938-1941.
Stebich noted the sisters’ extraordinary success in pottery, importance in American ceramics history and influence at the Indiana State Fair.
Mary Frances was one of four sisters who established the Overbeck Pottery in their Cambridge City home in 1911 after studying in Cincinnati or New York. They won awards in Paris, Chicago, New York, the Panama Pacific Exposition and other locations.
Their art has been featured in recent decades in museums in Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Boston and New York, as well as close to home at Richmond Art Museum.
The late Arthur and Kathleen Postle gave their collection of Overbeck pottery, including the deer vase, to Cambridge City’s library in 1972 for public display.
Learn more about the Overbeck Sisters at ccitypl.org/overbeck-museum, which includes a link to watch a 2019 PBS program, “Journey Indiana,” featuring the museum and local experts Leah Huddleston and Phyllis and the late Jerry Mattheis.
A version of this article appeared in the March 12 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.