Provenance Information

1960s, acquired in Panama by Dr. Edward Howell (b. 1926 – d. 1998), Danville, PA [see note]; by inheritance to his widow, Jacqueline Howell, New Orleans; 2013, sold by Mrs. Howell to M. S. Rau Antiques, New Orleans; 2013, sold by Rau Antiques to Timothy Phillips, Boston; 2015, year-end gift of Timothy Phillips to the MFA. (Accession Date: February 24, 2016)

NOTE: According to a signed and notarized statement from Dr. Howell’s widow (February 18, 2013). Dr. Howell served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force during the early 1960s, at which time he was stationed in Peru. He formed much of his Pre-Columbian collection at that time. Panama, where he is believed to have acquired this piece, was the primary refueling stop between the U.S. and Peru.

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

According to a signed and notarized affidavit, this was acquired in the 1960s, when Dr. Edward Howell was traveling and building his collection of Pre-Columbian artifacts. Dr. Howell served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force during the early 1960s, at which time he was stationed in Peru.

Provenance Information

1960s, acquired in Panama by Dr. Edward Howell (b. 1926 – d. 1998), Danville, PA [see note]; by inheritance to his widow, Jacqueline Howell, New Orleans; 2013, sold by Mrs. Howell to M. S. Rau Antiques, New Orleans; 2013, sold by Rau Antiques to Timothy Phillips, Boston; 2019, gift of Timothy Phillips to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 11, 2019)

NOTE: According to a signed and notarized statement from Dr. Howell’s widow (February 18, 2013). Dr. Howell served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force during the early 1960s, at which time he was stationed in Peru. He formed much of his Pre-Columbian collection at that time. Panama, where he is believed to have acquired this piece, was the primary refueling stop between the U.S. and Peru.

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

According to a signed and notarized affidavit, this was acquired in the 1960s, when Dr. Edward Howell was traveling and building his collection of Pre-Columbian artifacts. Dr. Howell served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force during the early 1960s, at which time he was stationed in Peru.

Provenance Information

About 1973, sold by Edward S. Merrin Gallery, New York, to Sherman Sackheim (b. 1921 – d. 2001) and Paula S. Sackheim (b. 1930 – d. 1982), Larchmont, NY [see note 1]; passed to their estate [see note 2]; by 2015, sold by the family of Sherman and Paula Sackheim to Anthropos Gallery, Los Angeles; 2015, sold by Anthropos Gallery to Timothy Phillips, Boston; 2019, gift of Timothy Phillips to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 11, 2019)

NOTES:
[1] Undated shorthand notes on Merrin Gallery letterhead, provided by the Sackheims, describe the flute and give a sale price. A teller’s check shows that payment was made for this object, at least in part, in 1973. [2] The estate of Paula S. Sackheim first lent the flute to EPCOT Center in 1984; it remained on loan there until about 2008.

Exhibition Information

EPCOT Center, Florida, beginning in 1984 and continuing until around 2008.

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

It is reasonable to infer that this flute was on the market by 1972, since at least partial payment was made for it in the following year, and that it was therefore outside of Mexico by the date of that country’s 1972 Federal Act on Monuments and Archaeological, Artistic and Historic Zones.

The gift was initially accepted with the belief that it was sold to the Sackheims around 1969 – 1971, and only later was the 1973 sale date discovered.

The flute has been exhibited publicly for years.

Provenance Information

Between the 1940s and 1960s, acquired in Mexico by a private collector (d. 1969), Houston, TX; by descent to his granddaughter, Tucson, AZ; 2003, sold by his granddaughter to Anthropos Gallery, Los Angeles; 2014, sold by Anthropos to Timothy Phillips, Boston; 2019, gift of Timothy Phillips to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 11, 2019)

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

According to information provided directly by the previous owner to the MFA, the acrobatic figure was in the possession of her family from sometime between the 1940s and 1960s until 2003. Because her grandfather passed away in 1969, we have every indication that it was out of its country of origin since before 1970.

Provenance Information

Between about 1963 and 1979, acquired in Panama by Dr. Glenn E. Murphy (b. 1922 – d. 2010), Balboa, Panama and New Smyrna Beach, FL [see note]; about 2000, sold by Dr. Murphy to Dr. Alan Grinnell, Los Angeles; 2014, sold by Dr. Grinnell to Anthropos Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA; 2014, sold by Anthropos Gallery to Timothy Phillips, Boston; 2019, gift of Timothy Phillips to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 11, 2019)

NOTE: Dr. Glen Murphy was an educator for the Panama Canal Zone government, who resided in Panama beginning in 1963. He had previously been there for the State Department as early as the 1950s. Dr. Murphy moved back to the United States with his household goods, including his collection of ceramics, in 1979.

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

At the time this dish was collected, Dr. Murphy was residing in the Panama Canal Zone, a territory of the United States. It was exported in early 1979, before Panama's 1982 legislation regarding antiquities was in place.

Provenance Information

Between about 1963 and 1979, acquired in Panama by Dr. Glenn E. Murphy (b. 1922 – d. 2010), Balboa, Panama and New Smyrna Beach, FL [see note]; about 2000, sold by Dr. Murphy to Dr. Alan Grinnell, Los Angeles; 2014, sold by Dr. Grinnell to Anthropos Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA; 2014, sold by Anthropos Gallery to Timothy Phillips, Boston; 2019, gift of Timothy Phillips to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 11, 2019)

NOTE: Dr. Glen Murphy was an educator for the Panama Canal Zone government, who resided in Panama beginning in 1963. He had previously been there for the State Department as early as the 1950s. Dr. Murphy moved back to the United States with his household goods, including his collection of ceramics, in 1979.

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

At the time this dish was collected, Dr. Murphy was residing in the Panama Canal Zone, a territory of the United States. It was exported in early 1979, before Panama's 1982 legislation regarding antiquities was in place.

Provenance Information

Between about 1963 and 1979, acquired in Panama by Dr. Glenn E. Murphy (b. 1922 – d. 2010), Balboa, Panama and New Smyrna Beach, FL [see note]; about 2000, sold by Dr. Murphy to Dr. Alan Grinnell, Los Angeles; 2014, sold by Dr. Grinnell to Anthropos Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA; 2014, sold by Anthropos Gallery to Timothy Phillips, Boston; 2019, gift of Timothy Phillips to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 11, 2019)

NOTE: Dr. Glen Murphy was an educator for the Panama Canal Zone government, who resided in Panama beginning in 1963. He had previously been there for the State Department as early as the 1950s. Dr. Murphy moved back to the United States with his household goods, including his collection of ceramics, in 1979.

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

At the time this dish was collected, Dr. Murphy was residing in the Panama Canal Zone, a territory of the United States. It was exported in early 1979, before Panama's 1982 legislation regarding antiquities was in place.

Provenance Information

Between about 1963 and 1979, acquired in Panama by Dr. Glenn E. Murphy (b. 1922 – d. 2010), Balboa, Panama and New Smyrna Beach, FL [see note]; about 2000, sold by Dr. Murphy to Dr. Alan Grinnell, Los Angeles; 2014, sold by Dr. Grinnell to Anthropos Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA; 2014, sold by Anthropos Gallery to Timothy Phillips, Boston; 2019, gift of Timothy Phillips to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 11, 2019)

NOTE: Dr. Glen Murphy was an educator for the Panama Canal Zone government, who resided in Panama beginning in 1963. He had previously been there for the State Department as early as the 1950s. Dr. Murphy moved back to the United States with his household goods, including his collection of ceramics, in 1979.

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

At the time this dish was collected, Dr. Murphy was residing in the Panama Canal Zone, a territory of the United States. It was exported in early 1979, before Panama's 1982 legislation regarding antiquities was in place.

Provenance Information

Between about 1963 and 1979, acquired in Panama by Dr. Glenn E. Murphy (b. 1922 – d. 2010), Balboa, Panama and New Smyrna Beach, FL [see note]; about 2000, sold by Dr. Murphy to Dr. Alan Grinnell, Los Angeles; 2014, sold by Dr. Grinnell to Anthropos Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA; 2014, sold by Anthropos Gallery to Timothy Phillips, Boston; 2019, gift of Timothy Phillips to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 11, 2019)

NOTE: Dr. Glen Murphy was an educator for the Panama Canal Zone government, who resided in Panama beginning in 1963. He had previously been there for the State Department as early as the 1950s. Dr. Murphy moved back to the United States with his household goods, including his collection of ceramics, in 1979.

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

At the time this dish was collected, Dr. Murphy was residing in the Panama Canal Zone, a territory of the United States. It was exported in early 1979, before Panama's 1982 legislation regarding antiquities was in place.

Provenance Information

Between the 1940s and 1960s, acquired in Mexico by a private collector (d. 1969), Houston, TX; by descent to his granddaughter, Tucson, AZ; 2003, sold by his granddaughter to Anthropos Gallery, Los Angeles; 2014, sold by Anthropos to Timothy Phillips, Boston; 2019, gift of Timothy Phillips to the MFA. (Accession Date: December 11, 2019)

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

According to information provided directly by the previous owner to the MFA, the Colima dog was in the possession of her family from sometime between the 1940s and 1960s until 2003. Because her grandfather passed away in 1969, we have every indication that it was out of its country of origin since before 1970.