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

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 is an example of the most ubiquitous tomb figures from Veracruz; such “smiling” figures with outstretched arms in an orant pose testify to the religious obligations of the deceased.

Provenance Information

Stendahl Galleries, Los Angeles [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; John G. Bourne, 1970s, by purchase; given to Walters Art Museum, 2014.

Exhibition Information

Exploring Art of the Ancient Americas: The John Bourne Collection Gift. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Albuquerque Museum of Art & History; Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville. 2012-2013.

Publication Information

Reents-Budet, Dorie. Exploring art of the ancient Americas: The John Bourne Collection. Baltimore: Walters Art Museum, 2012.

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

Communications between the Walters Art Museum and the donor of this promised gift began in April 2005.

Provenance Information

Sotheby's, c. 1994; purchased by Joseph and Barbara Goldenberg, Los Angeles, by 1994.

Exhibition Information

None known.

Publication Information

None known.

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

Prior to June 4, 2008, the donor signed a will setting forth her intent to donate the work to the museum. Although gifted to the museum, this work has not been accessioned, pending additional review and research.

Provenance Information

Fine Arts of Ancient Lands, Inc. (Spencer Throckmorton), by 1988; sold to Joseph and Barbara Goldenberg, Los Angeles, 1988.

Exhibition Information

None known.

Publication Information

None known.

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

Prior to June 4, 2008, the donor signed a will setting forth her intent to donate the work to the museum. Although gifted to the museum, this work has not been accessioned, pending additional review and research.

Provenance Information

Fine Arts of Ancient Lands, Inc. (Spencer Throckmorton), by 1988; sold to Joseph and Barbara Goldenberg, Los Angeles, 1988.

Exhibition Information

None known.

Publication Information

None known.

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

Prior to June 4, 2008, the donor signed a will setting forth her intent to donate the work to the museum. Although gifted to the museum, this work has not been accessioned, pending additional review and research.

Provenance Information

Fine Arts of Ancient Lands, Inc. (Spencer Throckmorton), by 1988; sold to Joseph and Barbara Goldenberg, Los Angeles, 1988.

Exhibition Information

None known.

Publication Information

None known.

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

Prior to June 4, 2008, the donor signed a will setting forth her intent to donate the work to the museum. Although gifted to the museum, this work has not been accessioned, pending additional review and research.

Provenance Information

Economos Works of Art [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; John G. Bourne, 1990s, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 2009, by gift.

Exhibition Information

Art of Ancient America, 1500 B.C.-1400 A.D.. Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe. 1998-2008.

Publication Information

Reents-Budet, Dorie. Exploring art of the ancient Americas: The John Bourne Collection. Baltimore: Walters Art Museum, 2012.

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

Communications between the Walters Art Museum and the donor of this gift began in April 2005.

Provenance Information

Ron Messick Fine Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; John G. Bourne, 1990s, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 2009, by gift.

Exhibition Information

Art of Ancient America, 1500 B.C.-1400 A.D.. Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe. 1998-2008.

Publication Information

Reents-Budet, Dorie. Exploring art of the ancient Americas: The John Bourne Collection. Baltimore: Walters Art Museum, 2012.

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

Communications between the Walters Art Museum and the donor of this gift began in April 2005.