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Fragment of an Architectural Frieze

Artist Culture
Zapotec
Period
Late Classic period, 600–909
Date
c.600–909
Current Location
On View, Gallery 114
Dimensions
9 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 5 in. (24.1 x 26.7 x 12.7 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Morton D. May
Rights
Contact Us
Object Number
351:1978.4
by 1966 - 1967
Howard Leigh (1896-1981), Mitla, Oaxaca, Mexico [1]

1967 - 1978
Morton D. May (1914-1981), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased from Howard Leigh through agents Eugenia Alvarez and Everett Rassiga [2]

1978 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Morton D. May [3]


Notes:
This object is one of 18 architectural fragments accessioned by the Museum in 1978 [351:1978.1-.18]. Although all the fragments were donated by Morton D. May, May acquired them from two different sources. 351:1978.1, .2, .4 share the same provenance.

[1] A letter dated October 20, 1966 from author Frank H. Boos to Museum curator Philippa D. Shaplin identifies Leigh as the owner of this tile [Curatorial Office, Primitive and Precolumbian Art Departmental Correspondence, Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].

[2] An invoice dated February 1, 1967 from Alvarez to May documents the purchase of 351:1978.1, .2, .4, .7, .13, .15, .16, listed as "7 (seven) Pieces of Zapotec frieze" [May Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum]. A letter dated February 1, 1967 from May to Gae Lehman [Rassiga's secretary] indicates Rassiga acted as May's agent in this purchase [Curatorial Office, Primitive and Precolumbian Art Departmental Correspondence, Archives, Saint Louis Art Museum].

[3] A letter dated September 19, 1978 from May to James N. Wood, director of the Saint Louis Art Museum, includes the offer of this object as part of a larger donation [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Acquisitions Committee of the Board of Trustees, Saint Louis Art Museum, December 13, 1978.