Provenance Information

Collection of Frederick R. [1928-2007] and Jan Mayer, Denver CO, by 1993 [1]; Gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2017
[1] On loan to the Denver Art Museum starting April 1993

Exhibition Information

On display in the Museum's Pre-Columbian galleries 1993 -2017

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

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 1993, 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.

Provenance Information

(Enrique Vargas-Alfaro) [1915-2008], San Jose, Costa Rica and Atlanta, GA; Purchased by Frederick R. [1928-2007] and Jan Mayer, Denver, CO, 1979 [1]; Gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2017
[1] On loan to the Denver Art Museum, 1992

Exhibition Information

On display in Museum's Pre-Columbian Galleries, 1993-2017

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

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.

Provenance Information

Collection of Frederick R. [1928-2007] and Jan Mayer, Denver, CO., by 1995 [1]; Gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2017
[1] On loan to the Denver Art Museum, starting July 1995

Exhibition Information

On display in Museum's Pre-Columbian Galleries, 2005-2007

Publication Information

(2017.234) 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

Cumulative facts and circumstances

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 1995, 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.

Provenance Information

Collection of Anton Possenbacker, Munich, Germany, by early 1970s; purportedly purchased by Private Collector, Switzerland. (Constance Kamens Fine Art), New York; purchased by Brian and Florence Mahony, Redding, CT, 1986; Gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2012.

Exhibition Information

On display in the Museum Arts of the Ancient Americas (formerly Pre-Columbian) Galleries, 2012-2017

Publication Information

Ferdinand Anton. Alt-Indianische Kunst in Mexiko. 28. VEB E.A. Seeman Verlag, Leipzig. 1986.

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

The work has been in the United State since the early 1970s, and was purchased by donors in 1986. Acquisition adds to the Museum's collection of Tlatilco works and allows opportunity to put object into public domain and facilitate further research.

Provenance Information

Collection of Dan Purcara, New York, by 1970s; Collection of David Bernstein (David Bernstein Fine Arts), New York; Gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2010

Exhibition Information

None known

Publication Information

None known

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

The DAM collection includes few stone tools from peoples from the ancient Caribbean and by the Taino; acquisition allows opportunity to put objects into public domain and facilitate further research.

Provenance Information

(Arte Primitivo), New York; purchased by Imre and Nicholas T. Molnar, 1973; by descent to Molnar family; consigned to (Arte Primitivo), New York; purchased by Gordon DeBoard, Birmingham, MI, 2006; Gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2014

Exhibition Information

None known

Publication Information

None known

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

The work has been in the United State since at least 1973, and was publicly auctioned in 2006. DAM has few pre-Columbian works from Argentina and none in the Belen style. Acquisition allows opportunity to put object into public domain and facilitate further research.

Provenance Information

Collection of Dan Purcara, New York, by 1970s; Collection of David Bernstein (David Bernstein Fine Arts), New York; Gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2010

Exhibition Information

None known

Publication Information

None known

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

The DAM collection includes few stone tools from peoples from the ancient Caribbean and by the Taino; acquisition allows opportunity to put objects into public domain and facilitate further research.

Provenance Information

Collection of Dan Purcara, New York, by 1970s; Collection of David Bernstein (David Bernstein Fine Arts), New York; Gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2010

Exhibition Information

None known

Publication Information

None known

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

The DAM collection includes few stone tools from peoples from the ancient Caribbean and by the Taino; acquisition allows opportunity to put objects into public domain and facilitate further research.

Provenance Information

Collection of Dan Purcara, New York, by 1970s; Collection of David Bernstein (David Bernstein Fine Arts), New York; Gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2010

Exhibition Information

None known

Publication Information

None known

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

The DAM collection includes few stone tools from peoples from the ancient Caribbean and by the Taino; acquisition allows opportunity to put objects into public domain and facilitate further research.

Provenance Information

Collection of Kai-Yin Lo, Hong Kong [1]; Gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2011
[1] On loan to the Denver Art Museum, 1997

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

Work on loan since 1997; acquisition fills gap in collection.