Object Title
Seated Jaguar-form Tripod Jar
Measurements
14" x 9 5/8" x 11 1/8"
Creation Date
AD 800 - 1250
Credit Line
Gift of the Collection of Frederick and Jan Mayer, Collection of Frederick and Jan MayerGift of the Collection of Frederick and Jan Mayer
Museum Contact
provenance@denverartmuseum.org
Country of Origin
Object Type
Materials / Techniques
Museum's Definition of Antiquity
Before 1550
Provenance Information
Collection of Jorge A. Lines (aka Jorge Lines Canalias) [1891-1978], San Jose, Costa Rica. (Stendahl Galleries), Hollywood, CA, by 1971; Purchased by Frederick R. [1928-2007] and Jan Mayer, Denver, CO, September 1971 [1]; Gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2017
[1] On loan to the Denver Art Museum, 1992
Exhibition Information
"Ancient Treasures of Costa Rica: Art and Archaeology of the Rich Coast." Denver Museum of Natural History, June 23, 1990-May 31, 1991; On display in Museum's Pre-Columbian Galleries, 1997 - 2017
Publication Information
Abel-Vidor, Suzanne, et al. Principales Tipos Ceramicos de la Gran Nicoya. 13 (1/2):35-327. Vinculos. San Jose, Costa Rica: Museo Nacional de Costa Rica. 1987., Lange, Frederick W., ed. Ancient Treasures of Costa Rica: Art and Archaeology of the Rich Coast. Johnson Publishing Co., Boulder, CO. 1990., Lange, Frederick W., ed. Costa Rican Art and Archaology: Essays in Honor of Frederick R. Mayer. University of Colorado, Boulder. 1988.
Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970
Gift or bequest expected or on loan prior to 2008
Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above
The Mayer collection of Costa Rican art distinguishes itself from other national and international collections for the depth and breadth of cultural and artistic styles represented therein. Assembled beginning in 1966, the objects represent the developmental arc of Costa Rican ceramics, metallurgy and stone carving and stands as the most comprehensive collection of Central American material culture outside of the region. Mr. and Mrs. Mayer began lending works in this gift to the Denver Art Museum in 1992 and since loan of this work in 1992, it has been on continuous display until 2017 in the Art of the Ancient Americas galleries. This gift complements the collection of Costa Rican material, also gifted by Mr. and Mrs. Mayer with the express purpose that the objects remain together in order for scholars to appreciate fully the development of Central American art, allow work to be put in the public domain, and facilitate further research.