Provenance Information

Floyd L. Whittington (1910–1999), Camano Island, Washington, and Sun City, Arizona, {potentially ca. 1966-67 while Economic Counselor at the American Embassy in Korea}; Virginia and Bagley Wright, Seattle, Washington

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

Based on the results of provenance research, as well as cumulative facts and circumstances, this Korean vessel was likely outside its country of origin by 1970. Research indicates that Floyd L. Whittington, a diplomat, collected while overseas during his time in Indonesia, Japan, and Korea. Whittington was appointed in Korea ca. 1966-67 as Economic Counselor at the American Embassy. Further provenance research will be ongoing, but the Seattle Art Museum can conclude, based on the aforementioned facts, that the work was likely purchased before 1970.

Provenance Information

between 1966/1970 - n.d. collection of Ken (J.J.) Baars (1924-2010), Surrey, England. n.d. collection of Jan van Beers, London, England. -2014 collection of Kaikodo LLC, New York; 2014 collection of Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (purchased from Kaikodo LLC)

Exhibition Information

Kaikodo LLC, New York, The Immortal Past, March 14 - April 25, 2014

Publication Information

The Immortal Past [an exh. cat.], in Kaikodo Journal, vol 30 no. 59 (Spring 2014); p. 164-165, 218-219, cat. no. 59, color illus. p. 165.

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 an exceptional example of Vietnamese export ware, distributed in Southeast Asia. It was collected between 1966-1970, when Mr. Baars was stationed in Indonesia as a geophysicist with Royal Dutch Shell. In 1970, he returned to the Netherlands along with his collection of Southeast Asian ceramics. This object also demonstrates the importance of this medium and form in the Vietnamese culture, particularly when held in dialogue with similar objects from other dynasties and/or cultures.

Provenance Information

c.1994 Private collection, Japan; 2014 Nanri Gallery, Osaka, Japan, purchased from private collection; 2014
Zetterquist Galleries, New York, NY; 2015 Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Zetterquist Galleries

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

It is not clear that this object was ever in an archaeological context.

Provenance Information

G. Nakajima Antiques & Curios, Kyoto, Japan; 1997 - 2014 Edith J. Spink (1921–2011), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased from G. Nakajima Antiques & Curios; 2014 Saint Louis Art Museum, bequest of Edith J. and C. C. Johnson Spink

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

In a letter dated August 16, 1988, C.C. Johnson Spink wrote to a Hong Kong dealer explaining that his purchase was “destined for the St. Louis Art Museum” and that “the collection…will be given to the Museum at some future date.” This object was part of a collection of 215 works of Chinese or Japanese origin, collected by C. C. Johnson Spink and Edith J. Spink from the 1970s through the 1990s. The Museum formally received the collection by bequest in 2014.

Provenance Information

n.d.-2014 private collection, Japan; (2014 with private dealer, Japan (possibly on consignment from private collector)); (2014 with Zetterquist Galleries, New York (on consignment from private Japanese dealer)); 2014 collection of Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (purchased through Zetterquist Galleries)

Exhibition Information

n/a

Publication Information

n/a

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 not clear that this object was ever in an archaeological context, and is the type of object that could have been exported to Japan early on.

Further, there are only a few pieces of this period and style represented in our collection, and significant examples of this specific form of white-ware are rare. It is an exceptional object and demonstrates the importance of this medium and form in the Vietnamese culture, particularly when held in dialogue with similar objects from other dynasties and/or cultures.

Provenance Information

Probably 1960s, acquired by Sylvan Barnet and William Burto, Cambridge, MA; 2014, gift of Sylvan Barnet and the estate of William Burto to the MFA. (Accession Date: October 29, 2014)

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 donors were acquiring other objects of this type in the 1960s, and it is very likely that they also purchased this at that time.

Provenance Information

by 2006 - 2008 collection of Robert Tichane, Painted Post, NY; 2008 Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca (gift of Robert Tichane)

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

The donor pledged this object, along with several others, to the museum prior to 2008, as per correspondence dated 2006, on file.

Provenance Information

late 1980s or early 1990s with private dealer, Hong Kong; by early 1990s - before 2000 E&J Frankel, Ltd., New York (purchased from private dealer); by 2000 - 2008 collection of Eunice and Herbert Shatzman, Durham (purchased from Frankel); 2008 Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca (gift of Eunice and Herbert Shatzman)

Exhibition Information

Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, Heavenly Earth: Early Chinese Ceramics from the Shatzman Collection, June 5 – August 22, 2004; Ackland Art Museum, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, February 6 – April 3, 2005

Publication Information

Avril, Ellen. Heavenly Earth: Early Chinese Ceramics from the Shatzman Collection [an exh. cat.] (Ithaca: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, 2004); ref. p. 29, cat. no. 21, color illus. and detail p. 29.

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 donors pledged part of their collection, including this object, to the museum prior to 2008, as per correspondence dated 2001, on file.

Provenance Information

before 2004 with J.J. Lally & Co., New York; by 2004 - 2008 collection of Eunice and Herbert Shatzman, Durham (purchased through J.J. Lally & Co.); 2008 Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca (gift of Eunice and Herbert Shatzman)

Exhibition Information

Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, Heavenly Earth: Early Chinese Ceramics from the Shatzman Collection, June 5 – August 22, 2004; Ackland Art Museum, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, February 6 – April 3, 2005

Publication Information

Avril, Ellen. Heavenly Earth: Early Chinese Ceramics from the Shatzman Collection [an exh. cat.] (Ithaca: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, 2004); ref. p. 28-29, cat. no. 20, color illus. and detail p. 28.

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 donors pledged part of their collection, including this object, to the museum prior to 2008, as per correspondence dated 2001, on file.

Provenance Information

by 2004 - 2008 collection of Eunice and Herbert Shatzman, Durham; 2008 Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca (gift of Eunice and Herbert Shatzman)

Exhibition Information

Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, Ithaca, Heavenly Earth: Early Chinese Ceramics from the Shatzman Collection, June 5 – August 22, 2004

Publication Information

Avril, Ellen. Heavenly Earth: Early Chinese Ceramics from the Shatzman Collection [an exh. cat.] (Ithaca: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornell University, 2004); ref. p. 40, cat. no. 34, color illus. p. 41.

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 donors pledged part of their collection, including this object, to the museum prior to 2008, as per correspondence dated 2001, on file.