Vessel
- Culture
- Teotihuacan
- Date
- c.300–550 CE
- Material
- Ceramic
- made in
- Mexico state, Mexico, North and Central America
- Classification
- Ceramics, containers
- Collection
- Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 114
- Dimensions
- 3 5/8 x 2 3/4 in. (9.2 x 7 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Morton D. May
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 78:1980.2
NOTES
With its elegant, stem-like neck and lightly incised pattering on the wide, thin rim and globular base, this vessel resembles a flower. The basic form remained the same at Teotihuacan for centuries, suggesting it was of some importance and highly prized. These vessels or floreros are found in a range of sizes. The residents of Teotihuacan were apparently fascinated with miniature versions of everyday and ritual ceramics, and often included them in burials.
Provenance
1950s-60s - 1969
George Pepper (1913–1969), Mexico City, Mexico [1]
1969 - 1970
Jeanette Pepper (1918–2016), Los Angeles, CA, USA, by inheritance [2]
1970 - 1980
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, purchased from Jeanette Pepper, through agent Everett Rassiga (1922–2003) [2]
1980 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [3]
Notes:
[1] Although it is not known exactly when Pepper acquired this object, he is not known to have collected Ancient American art until he lived in Mexico City, his residence from 1951 until his death in 1969 [SLAM document files].
[2] An invoice from Everett Rassiga, Inc. in New York, NY dated February 10, 1970 records the purchase of the Pepper Collection from Jeanette Pepper, widow of George Pepper [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[3] A letter from Morton D. May to John Peters MacCarthy dated April 3, 1980 records this donation [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, June 6, 1980.
George Pepper (1913–1969), Mexico City, Mexico [1]
1969 - 1970
Jeanette Pepper (1918–2016), Los Angeles, CA, USA, by inheritance [2]
1970 - 1980
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, purchased from Jeanette Pepper, through agent Everett Rassiga (1922–2003) [2]
1980 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [3]
Notes:
[1] Although it is not known exactly when Pepper acquired this object, he is not known to have collected Ancient American art until he lived in Mexico City, his residence from 1951 until his death in 1969 [SLAM document files].
[2] An invoice from Everett Rassiga, Inc. in New York, NY dated February 10, 1970 records the purchase of the Pepper Collection from Jeanette Pepper, widow of George Pepper [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[3] A letter from Morton D. May to John Peters MacCarthy dated April 3, 1980 records this donation [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions and Loans Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, June 6, 1980.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.