Paperweight, Seated Baby
- Associated
- with the Art Academy of the American Woman's League, University City, Missouri, active 1909–1911
- Date
- c.1911
- Material
- Glazed porcelain
- Classification
- Ceramics, sculpture
- Collection
- Decorative Arts and Design
- Current Location
- Not on view
- Dimensions
- 2 1/2 x 2 3/4 x 2 5/8 in. (6.4 x 7 x 6.7 cm)
- Credit Line
- Bequest of Elsa K. Bertig in memory of Joseph and Elsa Bertig, by exchange; and funds given by Mrs. Richard I. Brumbaugh
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 272:1979
Provenance
by 1914 - 1950
Edward Gardner Lewis (d.1950), University City, MO; Atascadero, CA [1]
- 1969
Robert Pilcher, Trash to Treasures Auction House, Morro Bay, CA
1969/10/05
In auction of Edward Gardner Lewis estate (presented by Robert Pilcher) at the Jewish War Veterans Memorial Center, University City, MO, October 5, 1969 [2]
- 1979
P. G. Pugsley & Son, San Francisco, CA
1979 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from P. G. Pugsley & Son [3]
Notes:
This figure shares the same provenance with another figure in the Museum's collection (271:1979).
[1] Edward Gardner Lewis founded an Art Academy in University City, Missouri, in 1909. A large number of art porcelains and other ceramics, including 215:1980, were made in the Art Academy, part of Lewis's Peoples University. The Art Academy and the Peoples University were never fully realized and closed by 1913. Lewis reorganized ceramic an art pottery production in the University City Porcelain Works in 1912, but the UCPW ceased during summer 1914. Lewis moved all his businesses to Atascadero, California, and by summer 1916 the ceramics had also been moved to California where they became part of Lewis's personal collection [Saint Louis Art Museum curator David Conradsen].
[2] In October 1969, Robert Pilcher presented at auction in St. Louis "antiques and art objects from the estate of the late Edward Gardner Lewis" ["Auction of Art Objects," "St. Louis Globe Democrat," October 19, 1969, West Area Section, p.7]. It is presumed that 215:1980 was included in that auction. Exact ownership and transfer of the ceramics between Lewis's death and the subsequent auction fourteen years later is not clear in these articles. One article states that "the items were handled by a California auctioneer when Lewis died in 1955 [sic] in Atascadero, Calif.... A California antique dealer [Robert Pilcher] is offering the items [at the October 5, 1969 auction]." It is not know whether Robert Pilcher was the California auctioneer who handled the earlier transaction or whether he acquired the pieces at a later date ["Auction Friday From Estate of U. City Founder," "St. Louis Globe-Democrat," September 29, 1969, West Area Section, p.1].
[3] Invoice from P. G. Pugsley & Son, September 21, 1979 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, October 10, 1979.
Edward Gardner Lewis (d.1950), University City, MO; Atascadero, CA [1]
- 1969
Robert Pilcher, Trash to Treasures Auction House, Morro Bay, CA
1969/10/05
In auction of Edward Gardner Lewis estate (presented by Robert Pilcher) at the Jewish War Veterans Memorial Center, University City, MO, October 5, 1969 [2]
- 1979
P. G. Pugsley & Son, San Francisco, CA
1979 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from P. G. Pugsley & Son [3]
Notes:
This figure shares the same provenance with another figure in the Museum's collection (271:1979).
[1] Edward Gardner Lewis founded an Art Academy in University City, Missouri, in 1909. A large number of art porcelains and other ceramics, including 215:1980, were made in the Art Academy, part of Lewis's Peoples University. The Art Academy and the Peoples University were never fully realized and closed by 1913. Lewis reorganized ceramic an art pottery production in the University City Porcelain Works in 1912, but the UCPW ceased during summer 1914. Lewis moved all his businesses to Atascadero, California, and by summer 1916 the ceramics had also been moved to California where they became part of Lewis's personal collection [Saint Louis Art Museum curator David Conradsen].
[2] In October 1969, Robert Pilcher presented at auction in St. Louis "antiques and art objects from the estate of the late Edward Gardner Lewis" ["Auction of Art Objects," "St. Louis Globe Democrat," October 19, 1969, West Area Section, p.7]. It is presumed that 215:1980 was included in that auction. Exact ownership and transfer of the ceramics between Lewis's death and the subsequent auction fourteen years later is not clear in these articles. One article states that "the items were handled by a California auctioneer when Lewis died in 1955 [sic] in Atascadero, Calif.... A California antique dealer [Robert Pilcher] is offering the items [at the October 5, 1969 auction]." It is not know whether Robert Pilcher was the California auctioneer who handled the earlier transaction or whether he acquired the pieces at a later date ["Auction Friday From Estate of U. City Founder," "St. Louis Globe-Democrat," September 29, 1969, West Area Section, p.1].
[3] Invoice from P. G. Pugsley & Son, September 21, 1979 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, October 10, 1979.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.