Provenance Information

Collection of Paul Clifford [1915-2003], Newton, NC and Atlanta, GA; Purchased by Frederick R. [1928-2007] and Jan Mayer, Denver, CO, 1973 [1]; Gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2017
[1] On loan to the Denver Art Museum, 1992-1998 and starting 2009

Exhibition Information

"Pre-Columbian Art of Costa Rica: From the Collection of Jan and Frederick R. Mayer." Clara A. Hatton Gallery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, February (?)-March 4, 1977. (Traveled to: Maxwell Museum, Albuquerque, NM, October 12, 1977-May 30, 1978). On display in Museum's Pre-Columbian Galleries, 1992-1998; "Rhythm & Ritual: Music of the Ancient Americas," Museo de las Americas, Denver, CO, June 18 - Oct. 17, 2020

Publication Information

Lange, Frederick W., ed. Costa Rican Art and Archaology: Essays in Honor of Frederick R. Mayer. University of Colorado, Boulder. 1988., Stroessner, Robert J. Pre-Columbian Art from Costa Rica: From the Collection of Jan and Frederick R. Mayer. Exhibit at the Clara A. Hatton Gallery. Art Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. 1977., Walker, Lester. Pre-Columbian Art From the Collections of Paul A. Clifford and William C. Thibadeau. High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA. 1971., Young-Sanchez, Margaret (editor). Nature and Spirit: Ancient Costa Rican Treasures in the Mayer Collection at the Denver Art Museum. Denver Art Museum. 2010.

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 display at various times 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.