Fragment of an Architectural Frieze
- Culture
- Zapotec
- Period
- Late Classic period, 600–909
- Date
- c.600–909
- Classification
- Architectural elements, ceramics
- Collection
- Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 114
- Dimensions
- 7 3/4 x 16 1/2 x 2 1/4 in. (19.7 x 41.9 x 5.7 cm)
- Credit Line
- Gift of Morton D. May
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 351:1978.7
Provenance
by 1965 - 1967
Howard Leigh (1896-1981), Mitla, Oaxaca, Mexico [1]
1967 - 1978
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased from Howard Leigh through agents Eugenia Alvarez and Everett Rassiga [2]
1978 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [3]
Notes:
This object is one of 18 architectural fragments accessioned by the Museum in 1978 [351:1978.1-.18]. Although all the fragments were donated by Morton D. May, May purchased them from two different sources. 351:1978.7, .13 share the same provenance.
[1] A letter dated July 11, 1966 from author Frank H. Boos to Museum curator Philippa D. Shaplin indicates Leigh purchased this tile "several months" after March 1965 [Curatorial Office, Primitive and Precolumbian Art Departmental Correspondence, Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. This fragment is further identified in a 1966 publication as the "Collection of Howard Leigh" [Boos, Frank H., "Ancient Sculpture in Oaxaca." New York: A. S. Barnes and Co., 1966, Fig. 360c].
[2] An invoice dated February 1, 1967 from Alvarez to May documents the purchase of 351:1978.1, .2, .4, .7, .13, .15, .16, listed as "7 (seven) Pieces of Zapotec frieze" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. A letter dated February 1, 1967 from May to Gae Lehman [Rassiga's secretary] indicates Rassiga acted as May's agent in this purchase [Curatorial Office, Primitive and Precolumbian Art Departmental Correspondence, Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[3] A letter dated September 19, 1978 from May to James N. Wood, director of the Saint Louis Art Museum, includes the offer of this object as part of a larger donation [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, December 13, 1978.
Howard Leigh (1896-1981), Mitla, Oaxaca, Mexico [1]
1967 - 1978
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased from Howard Leigh through agents Eugenia Alvarez and Everett Rassiga [2]
1978 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [3]
Notes:
This object is one of 18 architectural fragments accessioned by the Museum in 1978 [351:1978.1-.18]. Although all the fragments were donated by Morton D. May, May purchased them from two different sources. 351:1978.7, .13 share the same provenance.
[1] A letter dated July 11, 1966 from author Frank H. Boos to Museum curator Philippa D. Shaplin indicates Leigh purchased this tile "several months" after March 1965 [Curatorial Office, Primitive and Precolumbian Art Departmental Correspondence, Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. This fragment is further identified in a 1966 publication as the "Collection of Howard Leigh" [Boos, Frank H., "Ancient Sculpture in Oaxaca." New York: A. S. Barnes and Co., 1966, Fig. 360c].
[2] An invoice dated February 1, 1967 from Alvarez to May documents the purchase of 351:1978.1, .2, .4, .7, .13, .15, .16, listed as "7 (seven) Pieces of Zapotec frieze" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. A letter dated February 1, 1967 from May to Gae Lehman [Rassiga's secretary] indicates Rassiga acted as May's agent in this purchase [Curatorial Office, Primitive and Precolumbian Art Departmental Correspondence, Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[3] A letter dated September 19, 1978 from May to James N. Wood, director of the Saint Louis Art Museum, includes the offer of this object as part of a larger donation [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, December 13, 1978.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.