Provenance Information

Oppenheimer Family, San Antonio, Texas, before 1980 (Note 1); John and Kathi Oppenheimer by gift to San Antonio Museum of Art, 2023.
Note 1: This object appears in a photograph of the Oppenheimer collection printed in November 1980 (date appears on the reverse of the photograph).

Exhibition Information

N/A

Publication Information

N/A

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

San Antonio Museum of Art staff began working with and exhibiting objects from the Oppenheimer collection on loan by 1998, a relationship that culminated in the donation of the collection to the museum in 2023. Documents presented to the museum prior to the donation indicate that Herbert Oppenheimer (1911-1989) was active in Mesoamerican art collecting by 1960; documentation also shows that his son, John Oppenheimer, was actively collecting by 1968. This artwork appears in a photograph of the Oppenheimer collection dated to 1980, the earliest photographs of the collection in the museum’s possession.

Provenance Information

Oppenheimer Family, San Antonio, Texas, before 1980 (Note 1); John and Kathi Oppenheimer by gift to San Antonio Museum of Art, 2023.
Note 1: This object appears in a photograph of the Oppenheimer collection printed in November 1980 (date appears on the reverse of the photograph).

Exhibition Information

N/A

Publication Information

N/A

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

San Antonio Museum of Art staff began working with and exhibiting objects from the Oppenheimer collection on loan by 1998, a relationship that culminated in the donation of the collection to the museum in 2023. Documents presented to the museum prior to the donation indicate that Herbert Oppenheimer (1911-1989) was active in Mesoamerican art collecting by 1960; documentation also shows that his son, John Oppenheimer, was actively collecting by 1968. This artwork appears in a photograph of the Oppenheimer collection dated to 1980, the earliest photographs of the collection in the museum’s possession.

Provenance Information

Oppenheimer Family, San Antonio, Texas, before 1998 (note 1); John and Kathi Oppenheimer by gift to San Antonio Museum of Art, 2023.
Note 1: This object appears in a photograph of the Oppenheimer collection dated to 1998. It was likely acquired well before the photograph was made, as many objects in the Oppenheimer collection were acquired before 1980.

Exhibition Information

N/A

Publication Information

N/A

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

San Antonio Museum of Art staff began working with and exhibiting objects from the Oppenheimer collection on loan by 1998, a relationship that culminated in the donation of the collection to the museum in 2023. Documents presented to the museum prior to the donation indicate that Herbert Oppenheimer (1911-1989) was active in Mesoamerican art collecting by 1960; documentation also shows that his son, John Oppenheimer, was actively collecting by 1968.

Provenance Information

Oppenheimer Family, San Antonio, Texas, before 1998 (note 1); John and Kathi Oppenheimer by gift to San Antonio Museum of Art, 2023.
Note 1: This object appears in a photograph of the Oppenheimer collection dated to 1998. It was likely acquired well before the photograph was made, as many objects in the Oppenheimer collection were acquired before 1980.

Exhibition Information

N/A

Publication Information

N/A

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

San Antonio Museum of Art staff began working with and exhibiting objects from the Oppenheimer collection on loan by 1998, a relationship that culminated in the donation of the collection to the museum in 2023. Documents presented to the museum prior to the donation indicate that Herbert Oppenheimer (1911-1989) was active in Mesoamerican art collecting by 1960; documentation also shows that his son, John Oppenheimer, was actively collecting by 1968.

Provenance Information

Justin Kerr, to 2018; Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Conn.

Exhibition Information

N/A

Publication Information

"Acquisitions July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018," https://artgallery.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/bulletin/Pub-Bull-acquisitions-2018.pdf (accessed December 1, 2018).

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Cumulative facts and circumstances

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

Conversations with Justin Kerr, June 2019 regarding the provenance of pieces, when he and first wife started collection in Jalisco in the 1950s-1960s

Provenance Information

From personal communication: Mr. Larry Kent bought the piece in the 80s from Lore R. Grove. Ms. Grove acquired the piece circa 1970s. No additional provenance information is reportedly available from Mr. Kent.

Exhibition Information

N/A

Publication Information

N/A

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

N/D

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

According to LACMA and AAMD guidelines, if the provenance of a proposed acquisition does not clearly indicate that the antiquity in question was outside its country of origin prior to 1970, the museum may determine to proceed with the acquisition based on an analysis of the benefits and risks, and in accordance with AAMD’s guidelines for the publication of the object and the provenance information known about it, with an explanation of the basis for the museum’s decision. Generally, LACMA believes that, absent evidence of looting or illegal export of any antiquities, but given incomplete provenance establishing that the objects were outside their source countries prior to 1970 and prior to any applicable foreign patrimony laws, it is in LACMA’s and the public interest to accept such objects for the purpose of bringing them into the public domain, caring for them and publishing them, both for scholarly purposes and for the purpose of providing notice to any party, including source countries, that may have a claim or information relating to the provenance of the objects.

Provenance Information

Robert and Marianne Huber, Huber Primitive Arts (Dixon, Ill.), by 1968 [correspondence in curatorial file]; sold to Lester (died 1992) and Rosalyn Olin (died 2013), Chicago, Ill., by 1968; by bequest to the Art Institute, 2014.

Exhibition Information

None

Publication Information

None

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Informed judgement that works were outside of the country of modern discovery before 1970

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

Lester and Rosalyn Olin purchased at least nine objects, including this piece, from Robert + Marianne Huber Fine Arts (Huber Primitive Art). The purchases were made over the course of several years ending in 1968, according to Marianne Huber, the gallery owner. Although Mrs. Huber was unable to locate contemporaneous records of the purchases, she stated in an email to the curator that she recalled selling the objects to Lester Olin before 1967, when she and her family left for an extended trip around the world, and in 1968, after their return in April of that year. The acquisition furthers the representation of the artistic achievements of all civilizations in art museums because it demonstrates how tomb figures from West Mexico represent the achievement and status of the deceased. This maternity figure from Ameca, Jalisco affirms her matronly status.

Provenance Information

Sold at auction, Don McLeod, Arcadia, California, February 7, 1968, lot 149; purchased at that auction by Frederick Pough, Reno NV; gift of his family to the Gallery in 2011

Exhibition Information

None known.

Publication Information

None known.

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Informed judgement that works were outside of the country of modern discovery before 1970

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

The donor's family provided the following: a letter from the donor to a dealer that describes his overall collection as having been accumulated in the 1930s and the 1960s with some specific descriptions of objects; a 1968 auction inventory list and dated purchase invoice.

Provenance Information

Sold at auction, Don McLeod, Arcadia, California, February 7, 1968, lot 140; purchased at that auction by Frederick Pough, Reno NV; gift of his family to the Gallery in 2011

Exhibition Information

None known.

Publication Information

None known.

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Informed judgement that works were outside of the country of modern discovery before 1970

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

The donor's family provided the following: a letter from the donor to a dealer that describes his overall collection as having been accumulated in the 1930s and the 1960s with some specific descriptions of objects; a 1968 auction inventory list and dated purchase invoice.

Provenance Information

Sold at auction, Don McLeod, Arcadia, California, February 7, 1968, lot 139; purchased at that auction by Frederick Pough, Reno NV; gift of his family to the Gallery in 2011

Exhibition Information

None known.

Publication Information

None known.

Section of the AAMD Guidelines relied upon for the exception to 1970

Informed judgement that works were outside of the country of modern discovery before 1970

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

The donor's family provided the following: a letter from the donor to a dealer that describes his overall collection as having been accumulated in the 1930s and the 1960s with some specific descriptions of objects; a 1968 auction inventory list and dated purchase invoice.