c.1919 -
André V. Simeon (1893-1970), Tahiti [1]
by 1958 - 1973
Origins of Art Research Foundation [Mildred Blanding], Altadena, CA, USA, acquired from André Simeon [2]
1973 - 1977
Morton D. May (1914-1983), St. Louis, MO, purchased from Origins of Art Research Foundation [3]
1977 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [4]
Notes:
[1] The 1958 publication includes a photograph of André Simeon with the caption "André V. Simeon, the collector at home, Tahiti, 1936" [Blanding, M. and André V. Simeon. "Listing of The M. Blanding Collection of South Seas Primitives with The Birth of Art." Altadena, CA: M. Blanding, 1958]. In a letter dated March 10, 1973 to Morton May, Mildred Blanding stated "Mr. Simeon assembled it during 25 years from 1919 overseas...I managed to rescue it." [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].
[2] See Note [1].
[3] An invoice dated July 3, 1973 from Origins of Art to Morton May identified this object was "from the Simeon collection". The object was identified as "Chieftan's ceremonial [bowl]" on the invoice [SLAM document files].
[4] A letter dated March 1, 1977 from Morton D. 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, April 14, 1977.
