Provenance Information

With Andreas Moraga, Berkeley, Calif.; sold to Donald Ellis Gallery, Dundas, Ontario, by 2002 (inv. no. M2083EE); sold to the Rubin-Ladd Foundation, Georgetown, Conn., and New York, 2002 (R-L inv. no. P0102 1); given to the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Conn., 2018

Exhibition Information

n/a

Publication Information

Sotheby’s France, Paris, Collection Barbier-Mueller Art Précolombien, sale cat. (March 22–23, 2013), 206, lot 296, Paris sale, this object is almost the exact replica of what we were given, colors are alternate design only.

“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

N/D

Explain why the object fits the exception set forth above

n/a

Provenance Information

Ex coll. Elie Borowski (1913-2003), Basel, Switzerland, from at least 1984. Purchased by MCCM from Christie's New York, Sale 9448, June 12, 2000, lot 126.

Exhibition Information

Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada, December 18, 1984 - June 30, 1985
MCCM Permanent Collection Galleries, 2000 - May 2004
MCCM Permanent Collection Reinstallation, September 2004 - September 15, 2014
MCCM Permanent Collection Reinstallation, March 23, 2015 - Present

Publication Information

Neda Leipen, et al., Glimpses of Excellence: A Selection of Greek Vases and Bronzes from the Elie Borowski Collection (Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum, 1984), 25-26, number 19.
Christie's New York, Ancient Greek Vases (June 12, 2000), lot 126.
MCCM Newsletter, September - November 2000.
Philipp Baas, "Zu den Vasenbildern aus Centuripe," Jahreshefte des Osterreichischen Archaologischen Institutes in Wien 85 (2016): 91, figures 3-5.
Mary R. Lefkowitz and Maureen B. Fant, Women's Life in Greece and Rome: A Source Book in Translation, 4th Edition (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016), 185, Figure 21.

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

Purchased by museum in 2000.

Provenance Information

Purchased by MCCM from Michael Ward [Ward & Company, Works of Art, Inc.], New York, New York.

Exhibition Information

MCCM Permanent Collection Reinstallation, September 2004 - April 28, 2014
MCCM Permanent Collection Reinstallation, July 2014 - Present

Publication Information

MCCM Newsletter, September - November 2000.

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

Purchased by museum in 2000.

Provenance Information

Ex coll. Simon Ohan Simonian, Switzerland, from 1960s. Imported into United States, July 8, 2003. Ex coll. Joseph and Sofi Lewis, United States, purchased from Kevork Simonian [Nomis Antiquities], Van Nuys, California, February 22, 2008.

Exhibition Information

To our knowledge, this object has never been exhibited.

Publication Information

To our knowledge, this object has never been published.

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

Object was reportedly out of source country before 1970. The Carlos continues to conduct provenance research on this object and all of our collections.

Provenance Information

Jay C. Leff, Uniontown, PA, by 1972 [Allentown 1972, cat. 131]; sold, Sotheby’s, May 31, 1975, lot 387, to Crouch Gallery, Macomb, IL; sold to Patricia Brett Erens, Chicago, 1975 [invoice SWP-137 and correspondence and documentation from Patricia Brett Erens, Oct. 13, 2020; copy in curatorial object file, Arts of the Americas]; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 2021.

Exhibition Information

Allentown, PA, Allentown Art Museum, Pre-Columbian Art of Mesoamerica from the Collection of Jay C. Leff, Feb. 12–Apr. 2, 1972, cat. 131.

Publication Information

Allentown Art Museum, Pre-Columbian Art of Mesoamerica from the Collection of Jay C. Leff, exh. cat. (Allentown, PA: Allentown Art Museum, 1972), 54-55, cat. 131, fig. 131 (ill.).

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

It is not currently possible to determine if the object originated within the United States or Mexico due to the absence of archaeological provenience and because Casas Grandes societies inhabited both sides of the present-day US-Mexico border. If the object originated in Mexico, provenance research allows the museum to make an informed judgment that the work was most likely in the United States by 1970. The object was acquired by Patricia Brett Erens, the donor, after June 1975, from Crouch Gallery in Macomb, IL, which had purchased it at public auction on May 31, 1975. The object was previously in the collection of Jay Leff, and had been publicly exhibited from February 1972 in Allentown as well as published in the accompanying catalog. Presumably, the object was in Leff’s possession for some period of time before it was exhibited, and the Art Institute of Chicago is unaware of any prior claims made against the work. As a border culture, Casas Grandes has often been overlooked by museums, and this vessel will help present a more diverse and inclusive understanding of Indigenous art in the Americas.

Provenance Information

Crouch Gallery, Macomb, IL, by 1975 [this and the following according to invoice SWP-75, July 3, 1975; copy in curatorial object file, Arts of the Americas]; sold to Patricia Brett Erens, Chicago, 1975; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 2021.

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

It is not currently possible to determine if the object originated within the United States or Mexico due to the absence of archaeological provenience and because Casas Grandes societies inhabited both sides of the present-day US-Mexico border. If the object originated in Mexico, provenance research allows the museum to make an informed judgment that the work was most likely in the United States by 1970. The object was acquired by Patricia Brett Erens, the donor, on July 3, 1975, according to the invoice from Crouch Gallery in Macomb, IL. Attempts to contact affiliates of the gallery for more information have not been successful. Presumably, however, it would have been in the possession of the gallery for a period of time before the sale. As a border culture, Casas Grandes has often been overlooked by museums, and this vessel will help present a more diverse and inclusive understanding of Indigenous art in the Americas.

Provenance Information

Private collection, Deming, NM, by 1973 [this and the following according to correspondence from private collector, Chicago, Apr. 22, 2021; copy in curatorial object file, Arts of the Americas]; sold to private collection, Chicago, after 1973; sold to Patricia Brett Erens, Chicago, Apr. 17, 1975 [receipt 9869, Apr. 17, 1975; copy in curatorial object file, Arts of the Americas]; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 2021.

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

It is not currently possible to determine if the object originated within the United States or Mexico due to the absence of archaeological provenience and because Casas Grandes societies inhabited both sides of the present-day US-Mexico border. If the object originated in Mexico, provenance research allows the museum to make an informed judgment that the work was most likely in the United States by 1970. The object was acquired in Chicago by Patricia Brett Erens, the donor, on April 17, 1975. It was formerly owned by another private collector in Chicago who has confirmed it was purchased from a previous private collector in Deming, NM, in 1973. The length of time that the object was in the private collection in Deming is not yet known. As a border culture, Casas Grandes has often been overlooked by museums, and this vessel will help present a more diverse and inclusive understanding of Indigenous art in the Americas.

Provenance Information

Private collection, Deming, NM, by 1973 [this and the following according to correspondence from private collector, Chicago, Apr. 22, 2021; copy in curatorial object file, Arts of the Americas]; sold to private collection, Chicago, 1973; sold to Patricia Brett Erens, Chicago, c. 1974 [correspondence and documentation from Patricia Brett Erens, Oct. 13. 2020; copy in curatorial object file, Arts of the Americas]; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 2021.

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

It is not currently possible to determine if the object originated within the United States or Mexico due to the absence of archaeological provenience and because Casas Grandes societies inhabited both sides of the present-day US-Mexico border. If the object originated in Mexico, provenance research allows the museum to make an informed judgment that the work was most likely in the United States by 1970. The object was acquired in Chicago by Patricia Brett Erens, the donor, by 1974. It was formerly owned by another private collector in Chicago who has confirmed it was purchased from a previous private collector in Deming, NM, in 1973. The length of time that the object was in the private collection in Deming is not yet known. As a border culture, Casas Grandes has often been overlooked by museums, and this vessel will help present a more diverse and inclusive understanding of Indigenous art in the Americas.

Provenance Information

Alexander–Suggs Gallery, Chicago, by Dec. 1975 [this and the following according to receipt, item A577, Dec. 27, 1975; copy in curatorial object file, Arts of the Americas]; sold to Patricia Brett Erens, Chicago, Dec. 27, 1975; given to the Art Institute of Chicago, 2021.

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

It is not currently possible to determine if the object originated within the United States or Mexico due to the absence of archaeological provenience and because Casas Grandes societies inhabited both sides of the present-day US-Mexico border. If the object originated in Mexico, provenance research allows the museum to make an informed judgment that the work was most likely in the United States by 1970. The object was acquired in Chicago by Patricia Brett Erens, the donor, by December 27, 1975, according to the invoice from the Alexander-Suggs satellite gallery in Chicago. Attempts to contact affiliates of the gallery for more information have not yet been successful. Presumably, however, it would have been in the possession of the gallery for a period of time before the sale, and possibly first at the main Alexander-Suggs Gallery in Saint Louis, MO. As a border culture, Casas Grandes has often been overlooked by museums, and this vessel will help present a more diverse and inclusive understanding of Indigenous art in the Americas.