Details of Three Woman, Catalina de Mora, and Two SistersGift from G. Stanley Alexander and Laura Alexander, 95.63.1; Gift of The Silverman Family Trust, 2024.4.9; Gift of Randie Levine-Williams, R.2013.8.3 In its mission to enrich lives through the world’s finest arts and cultures, Bowers Museum actively collects objects through purcha...
Collage of wine vessels superimposed over one of the tripod vessels (ding) discovered at the Yangjiacun site Ritual bronze wine vessels are among the most exceptional objects discovered within the tombs of China’s pre-imperial dynasties. For the ancient Chinese, life continued after death and this central and enduring belief compelled a...
Cleaving Club (Ula-fumiti), early to mid 19th CenturyNiuean culture; Niue Island, PolynesiaWood; 68 7/8 x 5 x 1 ¼ in.2018.4.1Bowers Museum Purchase Behold the Cook-o-nut Captain Cook was the first European to travel to Niue, a small island in the middle of Polynesia, when he landed ashore late in the spring of 1774. His welcome to the...
Photograph of a haus tambaran taken by Peter and Signe Keller on a trip to Papua New Guinea in 2010 Bowers Museum is pleased to announce the newly reimagined John M. Lee Court, and in observance of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, the occasion presents a timely opportunity to discuss select objects in the spa...
Tanagra Figurine5th centuryBoeotia, GreeceTerracotta; 7 in. Bowers Museum Purchase, 78.34.1Bes Figurinec. 800 BCESais culture; EgyptTerracotta; 2 ½ in. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Ward, 92.13.15Goddess Relief5th to 6th centuryGupta Empire; India Terracotta; 18 x 12 in. Gift of Dr. John B. Ross, 91.52.3 In anticipation of the exhibition, World o...
Fletcher Robinson (Author), Burr Shafer (Illustrator)The cover of “C. Hamilton Blight Looks at Santa Ana”1954Ink on paper; 8 ½ x 11 in.Bowers Museum Collection, 31106.1Burr ShaferAmerican, 1899-1965Illustration for “C. Hamilton Blight Looks at Santa Ana”1954Ink, watercolor, and correction fluid on paper; 8 ½ x 11 in.Bowers Museum Collection, 31106....
Detail of Storyboard Beam, mid 20th centuryPalau, MicronesiaWood; 5 7/8 x 77 1/2 x 1 5/8 in.2019.17.31Gift of Frieda O. Wray from the Estate of Dr. & Mrs. Douglas and Carolyn Osborne Storytelling is Human Culture Humans have long used art to tell stories, give warnings, and keep records.Asian Comics: Evolution of an Art Form, on display at Bowe...
Content warning: The comics in this post are presented as originally created. They may contain outdated phrases and cultural descriptions which the Bowers Blog does not endorse. Los Angeles Examiner’s “Puck: The Comic Weekly”, c. 1944Hearst Communications; Los AngelesPaper and ink; 21 1/2 x 15 9/16 x 1/16 in.40614.12Gift of Mrs. Peryl Ashton E...
Tapa Cloth (Ngata), 20th CenturyTongan culture; Tonga, PolynesiaPounded tree bark and pigment; 78 x 152 in.93.18.1Donated by Jeff and Laura Blackie Trip to Motunui When Walt Disney Animation Studios released Moana (2016) to a tidal wave of good reviews, the Bowers Museum was overjoyed to see Polynesian culture and art achieve broad recognition with...
Oak Leaf Ornament, early 20th CenturyUnknown maker; probably United StatesGold; 4 1/2 in.30713BGift of Mrs. Anita L. Alexander Disbe-leaf That It Is 2024 Hard to believe as it may be, 2023 has ended and the new year, 2024, has begun. With high hopes for all the wonderful and exciting things that the new year may hold, today’s post celebrates the pr...
Medicine or Magic Horn (Naga Marsarang), early 20th centuryUnrecorded Batak Toba artist; Sumatra, IndonesiaBuffalo horn, wood, brass, and plant fiber; 12 1/2 × 2 1/4 × 21 in.2004.67.1Bowers Museum Purchase with Funds Provided by Don and Barbara Greek Indonesian Carvings Among the Bowers’ collection of objects from the Indonesian archipelago, some o...
Composite of Vairocana and Vajrasattva Mandalas, 2001-2004Shashi Dhoj Tulachan (Nepalese, 1942-)Natural mineral pigments on canvasL.2012.25.3,.4,.6,.9Loan courtesy of Gayle and Edward P. Roski Returning to a Bowers Near You For most of the past decade Bowers Museum’s Freedman Galleria has been flanked by nine immense paintings by Lama Shashi Dhoj T...
Fly Whisks, 20th CenturyUnrecorded artist(s), Kuba culture; Democratic Republic of the CongoWood, horsehair, and leather; 13 in. eachF79.27.39-.40Gift of Dr. Daniel Solomon M.D. A Shoo-in’ for Success Though not the deadliest insects on the planet, houseflies are without a doubt one of the most annoying. They have a remarkable penchant for getting ...
Detail of Autumnal Landscape, c. 1940Ernest T. Fredericks (American, 1877-1959)Oil on canvas; 30 x 38 in.19963Gift of Miss Sarah Jane Brittenham Estate Heartland Painter Although we are deep into the autumn months, area trees would be looking about as green as ever had they not been so thoroughly denuded by our recent Santa Anas. But in locales nor...
Detail of Ascent, 1961Mildred K. Walker (1915-1995)Sepia conte crayon on yellow paper; 23 x 35 in.37214Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence R. Macaray Ebb of Hallowtide Though Halloween is now in the rear view, today’s Bowers Blog post is published in the slightly belated spirit of October’s spookiest day. Here we look at a small selection of prints and...
Detail of Snow at Nezu Shrine, 1934Tsuchiya Koitsu (Japanese, 1870-1949Woodblock print on paper; 18 x 13 in.98.17.5BGift of Ms. Alice Marshall Ready to Print This past Saturday, Bowers Museum opens its doors to Beyond the Great Wave: Works by Hokusai from the British Museum. As an exhibition of works by one of the most influential artists of all ti...
Winter Landscape—Sunlit Hill with added groundhog, c. 1925George Gardner Symons (American, 1863-1930)Oil on canvas; 41 x 47 x 1 1/2 in.F7680Martha C. Stevens Memorial Art Collection Groundhog Day Celebration... Again With Groundhog Day again bringing Punxsutawney Phil, the world's most famous groundhog, from his winter abode to predict an early spr...
Autumn Evening, 1921Dwight W. Tryon (1849-1925)Oil on canvas; 11 x 16 in.F7692Martha C. Stevens Memorial Collection Trees Beyond Trees Though the weather seems to be fluctuating between mildly warm and quite warm rather than downshifting into the crispness that is generally characteristic of the autumn season, we are now a good way into fall. Conti...
Armistice Day Parade, c. 1920Unknown photographer; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 4 x 6 in.35223DGift of Mrs. Stella May Preble Nau Estate The Great War The worst war that the world had ever known ended on November 11th, 1918. Exactly a year later Woodrow Wilson led his countrymen in observing Armistice Day to honor the lasting peace that...
Detail of Two Girls Carrying Children, c. 1899Kusakabe Kimbei (Japanese; 1841–1934); JapanPhotographic printF76.41.53Gift of Herb Hansen Interiors Coming Soon This Saturday the Bowers Museum opens its doors to The Power of Photography, an exhibition curated by the expert collector and gallerist Peter Fetterman. The show closely studies the way in w...
Crop of Autumnal Tints, 1909John Francis Murphy (American, 1853-1921)Oil on canvas; 16 x 22 in.F7663Martha C. Stevens Memorial Art Collection 24 Corot Gold As of last Friday, we have officially entered fall. Temperatures are at least hypothetically beginning to drop, area foliage is strongly considering a change to yellow, orange, or red—or quittin...
The Mayas, c.1999Raúl Anguiano (Mexican, 1915-2006)Oil on canvas99.63.2Gift of Bowers Museum Collectors Council National Hispanic Heritage Month September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month, an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Hispanic Americans. This year, the Bowers Blog looks at Raúl Anguiano (Mexican, 1915-2006) an...
Ladle, early to mid 19th CenturyUnrecorded artist; Raivavae or Tubuai, Austral Islands, French Polynesia, PolynesiaWood; 28 7/8 x 5 3/4 x 4 1/2 in.2006.7.2Jordan Community Trust Purchase South Seas Islands Situated in the southernmost region of French Polynesia, the five inhabited Austral Islands are famous for their distinctive wood carvings. Perh...
Coverlet, c. 1845Unrecorded American artist; KansasCotton; 82 × 90 in.31045Gift of Daisy F. Brown Woven Stories Coverlets, single-layered bedcoverings, are distinct from quilts but share in a lot of aspects of their creation and use. In the 19th century, coverlets were in many cases one of the few artforms made by American women, who had been denie...
Helmet "Firespitter" Mask (Kponyugu), early to mid 20th centuryUnrecorded artist, Senufo culture; probably Côte d'IvoireWood; 40 x 15 x 14 1/2 in.2022.8.11Gift of Diane M. Conn in Memory of Mace Neufeld Passing On Cultures from around the world have found many different answers to the question of what happens when we die. In some versions of the be...
Bowers Museum's display at South Coast Plaza's Jewel Court, image from Bowers' Exhibit Design Department Trip to the Mall The Bowers Museum is very excited to be collaborating with South Coast Plaza on a temporary display in their Jewel Court that both promotes our upcoming Fall/Winter exhibitions and includes five cases of highlights from the Bowe...
Jacqueline Kennedy Mitzi Doll, 1960-1962Ideal Toy Company (1907-1997); Hollis, Queens, New YorkPlastic, paint, and fabric; 11 ½ in.37944Gift of Mrs. Lilian Norman Gally Doling out Doll Facts Barbie (2023) has driven its dream car past a biopic on the father of thermonuclear weapons to become this summer’s biggest blockbuster film. While dolls ...
Silkwood 2:07, 1893Ella Congdon (American, 1871 - 1920)Oil on canvasR.2014.4.100Bowers Museum Collections In The Beginning The creation of Orange County in 1889 was not universally well received, and its unfolding led to some discontent in the formative years of the new county. Eventually it would be the Orange County Fair, to date one of the most ...
Detail of Untitled, mid 20th CenturyPaul Lauritz (Norwegian, 1889 - 1975); CaliforniaWatercolor on paper; 20 × 26 in.2018.6.19Ann and Bill Cullen Memorial Collection Contemporary-Traditional Artist This week has seen the opening of the Bowers’ second featured summer exhibition: the California Art Club’s 112th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition. In honor ...
Amulet Box (Gau or Gawu), 19th to 20th CenturyTibet Autonomous RegionBrass; 4 1/4 × 3 7/8 × 1 3/8 in.2021.8.52Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih Warding Wardrobe In cultures that believe in the existence of supernatural forces in humans’ day-to-day lives, important steps are taken to ensure that individuals are protected from the unseen as well as th...
General Sherman Tree Commemorative Plate, 1946-1950Made by Vernon Kilns; Designed by Orpha Klinker (American, 1891-1964); Text by Harrye Forbes (American, 1861-1951)Fired ceramic; 10 in.31737.1Evylena Nunn Miller Memorial Collection California Legacies History is all around us: the buildings that we inhabit, work, and shop in; the roads we drive; t...
Winter in Mastumoto City, 1920-1922Evylena Nunn Miller (American, 1888-1966); Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, JapanOil on cardboard; 10 x 14 in.31804.12Evylena Nunn Miller Memorial Collection A Fifth Those of us looking out our windows in California may as well have forgotten that under the right cold-weather conditions, water can become snow, howeve...
Incantation Bowl, 4th to 7th CenturyUnrecorded artist, Sasanian culture; Babylon Governorate, Iraq Ceramic; 10 in.30892Gift of Mrs. Charles K. Baldwin World of Magic Magic is a subject that is often broached on the Bowers Blog, as almost all cultures believe in ritual practices that allow us to control aspects of our chaotic world. In the 1850s, th...
Bismar Scales, 19th to 20th CenturyLaosWood, metal, fiber and tortoiseshell2019.23.71-.80Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih Scales of Justice When most think of scales, they likely summon an image of Lady Justice, perhaps guarding the entrance of a courthouse, with golden scales for balancing the deeds of the good, evil, and those difficult to classi...
Figure of an Ibis, 26th to 30th dynasty, (664-341 BCE)EgyptBronze, gold leaf, and wood; 15 in.2002.8.6Gift of Mrs. Ramona Ward Downsizing While ancient Egypt might be best known for its monumental architecture and sculptures—the Great Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza, Abu Simbel, Karnak—the vast majority of Egyptian sculpture was much smaller in scale. ...
B.J. MacMullen’s Equipment for Chevrolet, early 20th CenturyLeo Tiede (American, 1889-1968); Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 8 1/4 x 6 1/4 in.37057.128Leo Tiede Photography Collection Family Matters With the newest installment of the thrilling Fast & Furious franchise—a series in which a non-blood related “family” of automotive action ...
Club Sword (Te Toanea), mid 19th CenturyI-Kiribati culture; Gilbert Islands, Republic of Kiribati, MicronesiaWood, shark teeth, fiber, tapa and human hair; 34 1/2in.2018.9.1Gift of Mark Blackburn Whirling Dervish Barring the outlandish Sharknado franchise, when we hear the phrase “shark attack,” the assumption is that we would have to be in the oce...
Composite of African beaded art2016.15.32, 2002.45.5a,b, 93.59.14, F74.12.10, 99.76.112Gifts of Diane Wedner and Ronald Ziskin, and Anonymous; Bowers Museum Foundation Acquisition Fund Purchase Exciting Things to Come This past weekend marked the close of the Bowers’ Guo Pei: Art of Couture exhibition and the start of a period of preparation for ou...
Concept for RVTO-2A Mission 2 (Not Skylab), 1970Philco Aeronutronic Division, Ford Motor Company; United StatesColor print on paper; 8 1/2 x 11 in.92.41.11Gift of Loral Aeronutronic Mothers and Missions to Space Many will be celebrating May 14, 2023 as Mother’s Day. Here at the Bowers Museum, it is the last day for our breathtaking Guo Pei: Art of ...
A Coruscant gallery and a selection of objects similar to those from a galaxy far, far away. And With You Happy May the Fourth! As we have done for more than half a decade running, on International Star Wars Day the Bowers Blog again takes a trip to a galaxy far, far away and looks closely at some Bowers objects that are visually similar to the ali...
Composite of F81.1.1 (Bowers Museum Purchase) and Village in Taiohae Bay, Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands by D Urville (colorized and modified), 1842 A Higher Bar When most Americans hear the word tiki, their mind is transported to the pseudo-Polynesian, pantropical, rum-fueled melting pot that is the American tiki bar. But as American tiki...
Katsina Figures (Tithu), late 19th to mid 20th CenturyHopi culture; ArizonaCottonwood root, pigment, and various mediums88.7.1, 89.1.17, 89.1.18, 7480, and 20630Gifts of John J. Hawkins, June Kennady Robertson, Miss Prudence Brown, and Mary J. Newland The Earth, The Air, and Everything In Between The Hopi, Zuni, and other Puebloan peoples believe i...
Guardian Sculpture (Hampatong), c. 1930Ngaju or Benoa Dayak culture; Kalimantan Tengah (Central Kalimantan) Province, Borneo, IndonesiaIronwood; 67 × 48 × 30 in.2015.20.1Gift of Mr. Mark Johnson Island Life Borneo, the world’s third largest island, features a rich biodiversity and equally rich diversity of cultures. Of these, Dayak is an umbrella t...
Composite made with NFTs (39135)Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence R. Macaray Way of the Future Are NFTs the way of the future? Many of the smartest minds of today feel that NFTs may one day find their place among other cutting-edge developments of their day like Betamax and HD DVD. Given that these burgeoning assets run little risk of disappearing in...
Fanny Bixby Spencer, c. 1915 Women’s History Month March is Women’s History Month, an opportunity to celebrate the great women who have shaped the course of history and contemporary society. Here we focus on Fanny Bixby Spencer, a Southern California heiress who used her family’s wealth and status to aid victims of abuse and prejudice. As both a ho...
Schabell in the Main Exhibit Room, 1932Unknown photographer; Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 2 3/4 × 4 1/2 in.77.35.1HGift of Carl Schabell Look Up The next time you are in California Legacies: Missions and Ranchos, be sure to tilt your gaze skywards to see the incredible coffered ceilings above. Original to the 1932 constru...
Monkey Orchestra (Affenkapelle), early to mid 20th centuryAelteste Volkstedter Porzellanmanufaktur; Rudolstadt, GermanyPorcelain and enamel98.6.1a-nGift of Mr. Randall Balch Imitation Game Monkeys make for lively subjects and, as anyone who has studied a monkey (even if only on social media) will attest, they are remarkably human in many ways, not ...
Detail of Steinway for Duke, March 1961Leigh A. Wiener (American, 1929-1993); Berlin, GermanyGelatin silver print on ektalure paper; 16 × 20 in.87.6.7Gift of Leigh A. Wiener. ©Leigh Wiener / 7410 Inc. All rights reserved Black History Month Many of the most famous American musicians and singers from the 20th and 21st centuries are Black artists. In...
Headdress (Vincha), 100 BCE-300 CEPossibly Nazca culture; South Coast, PeruGold; 12 3/4 x 19 in.2005.26.1Dr. James Block Pick and Dr. Rosalyn M. Laudati Fund Purchase Crown of Gold This headdress, distinct in shape and style originates from the southern coastal region of Peru, and is possibly attributed to the Nazca culture. It is made of a very th...
Detail of Shawl (Rebozo), early 19th CenturyUnknown Maker; Manila or Mexico City, Viceroyalty of New SpainSilk and sequins; 82 x 30 in.2379Gift of Dona Magdalena Murillo A Small World After All We live today in a global society. The produce we eat, the clothes we wear, and the technology we use on a daily basis all might have been produced or assem...
Embroidered Panel, late 20th CenturyMiao culture; probably Guizhou Province, ChinaSilk and metallic thread on possibly silk backing; 14 × 31 1/2 in2017.3.7Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih National Embroidery Month February is National Embroidery Month in the United States, a timely celebration given the significance of embroidery in the Bowers Muse...
Modified detail of F81.109.8Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Reilly P. Rhodes in Memory of Clarence H. Hoiles History of the Zodiac This past Sunday marked the beginning of the Lunar New Year, a holiday closely tied to the zodiac observed by cultures of eastern Asian countries like China and Vietnam as well as their diaspora. The Chinese zodiac of twelve anima...
Bridge Out During Flood, 1938Unknown Photographer; Orange County, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 10 x 8 in.34413.13Gift of Judge Raymond Thompson Calm Amidst the Storm California is right now in a calm between periods of torrential downpours. The fact that the state has been in a drought for almost two decades has made the sudden bursts of rain all ...
Crossbow, 1960sMontagnard culture; Central Highlands region, VietnamWood and bamboo fiber; 28 × 2 × 40 1/2 in.2021.7.9a-cAnonymous Gift Enemy’s Enemy During the Vietnam War the United States and South Vietnam allied with some of the Indigenous peoples of the country’s Central Highlands. Collectively called the Montagnard peoples—a name derived from...
Santa Claus Special at Santa Ana Station, November 27, 1948Unknown Photographer; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 10 x 8 in.35265.2Gift of Mr. Frank Carter Tis the Season On Friday, November 26, 1948, a throng of parents and their excited children followed the parade route of the Santa Claus Special—a three-car train formed of a 660-horsepo...
Crate, 1931-1933Unknown Maker; Beijing, ChinaWood and metal; 20 × 36 × 20 1/2 in.2020.14.111a,bGift of Anne and Long Shung Shih Unsung Heroes In the context of art museums, transportation solutions for cultural artifacts are generally resigned to storage and staging areas. Visitors to the Bowers will note that our staff—like that of most museums—ma...
Artist rendering of a model canoe from Wuvulu (2021.7.49a,b) enlarged and in the oceanAnonymous Gift Close but Far Away Maps of Oceania are often split into distinct cultural subregions, but there is a surprising amount of overlap between Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Despite being only 100 miles away from the coast of New Guinea, the cente...
Detail of Phantom War Shield, late 20th CenturyWahgi Valley, probably Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaWood, rattan and commercial paint2022.10.1Bowers Museum Purchase in Memory of Dr. Peter C. Keller The Ghost Who Walks This past week the Bowers installed a new acquisition in Spirits and Headhunters: Art of the Pacific Islands that migh...
Grade Statues, 20th CenturyBanks Islands, Torba Province (two on the left) and Ambrym Island, Malampa Province, Vanuatu, MelanesiaTree fern rootL.2015.22.1-.3Loan courtesy of Gayle and Edward P. Roski Large and Mana Charged A stroll around Port Vila, the capital city of Vanuatu, reveals the pervasiveness of monumental sculpture on the islands. Now ...
Cinnabar Tabletop Incense Stand, Qianlong reign (1736-1795)ChinaWood, resin and pigments; 17 3/4 x 14 1/2 x 12 in. 2022.7.3Gift of Dr. Oliver Foo and Sheng Sheng Foo Medium of Great Import (and Export) In China, dating back into ancient times, lacquer was used to create a plastic-like decorative coating for objects made of wood, leather, and metal....
Detail of Untitled, c. 1919Isaac Jenkinson Frazee (American, 1858-1942) after Edgar Alwin Payne (American, 1883-1947)Oil pastel on wood; 12 x 9 in.30365Isaac J. Frazee Collection A Life of Service Of all the early settlers to Laguna Beach who helped turn a tiny community into a major colony for the arts, perhaps none of them is as complex a figure ...
Untitled, 1917Clarence Hinkle (American, 1880-1960); CaliforniaOil on board; 15 1/4 x 12 1/4 in.30361Isaac J. Frazee Collection California Painters Forever As the California Art Club’s 111th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition draws to a close at the Bowers Museum, the Bowers Blog takes the opportunity to feature California artists in the permanent collec...
Ancestor Figures (Korwar), 19th CenturyCenderawasih (Geelvink) Bay, West Papua Province, Indonesia, Melanesia Wood and mother-of-pearl F79.67.1, 85.24.1Gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin R. Gamson and Dwight V. Strong Remembrance The way in which forebears are remembered differs all around the world. In most western cultures, the dead are buried or cremat...
Processional Crosses, 20th CenturyEthiopiaSilver alloy; Various dimensions2022.4.3-.5Gift of The David Poiry Trust Dancing to the Beat of Their Own Drum Christianity in Ethiopia is a product of almost two millennia of practice, isolation, and conflict. For much of the country’s history it has been isolated from other Christian countries, which has ...
San Juan Capistrano Mission, late 19th to early 20th CenturyUnknown Photographer; San Juan Capistrano, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 4 3/8 x 7 1/2 in.6867Gift of Terry Elmo Stephenson, Jr. Breathing Life into the California Missions The Spanish missions have bestowed an undeniable legacy of art and architecture upon California. However, without art...
Mission San Luis Rey, 1895Unknown Photographer; San Luis Rey, CaliforniaPrinted paper; 6 x 8 in.19495Gift of Harrie H. Teaboldt A Dual History of the California Missions The 21 California missions have a dual history. They once served as tools of the Spanish government to colonize California, resulting in the decimation of Indigenous lives and cult...
Confirmation Class, 1897Fannie Eliza Duvall (American, 1861-1934); San Juan Capistrano, CaliforniaOil on canvas; 20 x 30 in.8214Gift of Miss Vesta A. Olmstead and Miss Frances Campbell Fairs, Fires, and Fannie Fannie Duvall studied in New York before moving to Los Angeles in 1888. She was one of the earliest accomplished artists to settle in the So...
Detail of The Old Blacksmith Shop, c. 1927Jean Goodwin Ames (American, 1903-1986); Santa Ana, CaliforniaOil on canvas; 24 x 28 in.1581Gift of the Artist Lost to Conciseness Biographies, especially succinct ones, are by nature reductionist, boiling down an entire human life into an easily digestible narrative. Take for example Anthony Heinsbergen, w...
Chrysanthemum Petal Bowl, Song dynasty (960-1279)Longquan, Zhejiang Province, ChinaGlazed ceramic; 4 1/2 x 10 13/16 x 33 in.91.48.2Gift of Carroll and Susanne Barrymore A Song Masterpiece: Celadon The modern world has inherited an exceptional tradition from China’s Song dynasty (960-1279): celadon. Celadon is a term for green-glazed ceramic ware, e...
Vessels, mid to late Neolithic period (5000-2050 BCE)Yangshao and Majiayao cultures; ChinaPainted ceramic90.5.64, 91.48.5, 97.119.1, 99.54.1, 2000.39.1Gifts of Patricia de Hoffman, Carroll and Susanne Barrymore, Mr. Lowell C. Martindale, Jr., and Linda Shih Yangshao Culture’s Significance The Yangshao culture, a neolithic Chinese society that lived...
Circular Boar's Tusk, mid 19th to early 20th CenturyPapua New Guinea, MelanesiaBoar tusk; 4 1/4 x 4/12 x 1/2 in.2015.17.24The George Stanley Lodin Collection Artifacts Like Parfait, With Layers Artifacts have layers and layers of stories. While not always told, the stories of previous owners, collectors and lenders are important components of an ar...
Ritual MortarSiassi Island, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaStone; 6 5/8 × 19 × 15 in.2011.11.7Collected on behalf of the Bowers Museum by the Roski-Keller-Martin Expeditions 2000-2008 Neo-Prolific The earliest archeological evidence shows humans migrated to the world’s second largest island, Papua New Guinea, at least 50,000 years ago....
Shields (Wörrumbi), 20th CenturyMendi culture; Southern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaWood, pigments and fiber; Various Dimensions2017.10.163, 2003.43.3, 2017.10.143Anonymous Gift On the Mendi In an early 20th Century effort to pacify Papua New Guinea, Australian colonial administrators began a campaign of suppressing tribal warfar...
Detail of The Strenuous Life Playbill, June 23, 1909Hickox Photo; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print81.11.20DGift of Mrs. D.C. Edwards Life Well Toiled What does it mean to live a good life? For most it is connected to the idea of individual happiness, community connectedness, ethical decision-making, healthy eating or any one of an infinite n...
Suspension Hook (Samban), c. 1930Iatmul culture; Suapmeri Village, Middle Sepik River region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, OceaniaWood and pigment; 25 1/4 × 14 1/2 × 4 in.2017.1.1Bowers Museum Purchase Whoa Black Betty, Tshambwan Save perhaps for weekend trips to big box Swedish furniture stores, we generally do not spend much ...
Walpi, 1919Edward Borein (American, 1873 - 1945); Walpi, Navajo County, ArizonaDrypoint and etching; 8 × 13 5/8 in.2021.2.1Jim and Jeanne Pieper Collection Ash Hill Terrace Soaring high above the canyon floor of the Hopi Reservation in Arizona, Walpi has been the site of a mesa village since the 10th century. Like many Hopi villages, its perch offe...
Standing Woman (pastel no. 124), 1918-1925Thomas Wilmer Dewing (American, 1851-1938)Pastel on brown paper; 15 x 12 in.F7724Martha C. Stevens Memorial Art Collection Odd Thomas Thomas Wilmer Dewing (1851-1938) was an American Gilded Age painter active in the late 19th and early 20thCenturies. He was an important member of the Tonalist movement, whic...
Detail of When King Carnival Reigns in the New Orleans Mardi Gras, La., 1924Keystone View Company (1862-1972); New Orleans, LouisianaPhotographic print; 3 3/8 x 7 x 1/2 in.83.22.63Gift of Mrs. Deirede Fairback Ironically Medieval Both the good times and the bad need to be punctuated with moments of celebration. Certainly, it is the case in many rel...
Cauldrons (Ding), Eastern Zhou to Han dynasty (770-221 BCE)ChinaCeramic and bronze91.48.4, 2005.11.1, and 2010.24.1a,bGift of Carroll and Susanne Barrymore, In Remembrance of Judy Owens, and Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles and Eileen Mohler Lukewarm Take Though often analyzed mostly through the lens of conquest and war, human history can just as easil...
Ritual Magic Bag with Pouch, mid 20th CenturyPapua New Guinea, Melanesia Palm fibers, bone, wood, beads, feathers and cowrie shell; 11 1/4 × 17 1/2 × 4 in.2017.10.66.1-.3Anonymous Gift Absolutely Enchanting Magic is something that almost everyone grows up with in one form or another: in simplest terms it is the attractive notion that individuals ha...
Short Sword (Wakizashi), 15th to 19th CenturyTsuguhiro (Japanese, active 1469-1521), Jiryūsai Tomohide (Japanese, 1778-1847) and Seiyōken Akitada (Japanese, active 19th Century); Fukui Prefecture, Chūbu Region, Japan and Nagasaki, Kyushu Region or Tokyo, Kantō Region, JapanSteel, manta ray skin, lacquer, silk and iron; 2 3/4 x 2 3/8 x 27 1/4 in.200...
Oil Lamp (Sukunda), early 19th CenturyNewar culture; Kathmandu Valley, NepalBrass; 16 1/2 × 7 × 16 in.2021.8.23Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih There’s The Rub The human fear of darkness is without a doubt born of the unpleasantness of our ancestors being devoured in lonely, midnight recesses by animals that formerly held the title of ‘apex predato...
Vases and Teapot, 1868-1926JapanEarthenware (Satsuma ware), enamel and gold2012.23.1,.36,.47a,bGift of Bernyce Besso Fair is Not Fair In the late 19th and early 20th century the United States and European powers forced isolationist Asian nations like Japan to open to Western markets. The existing governments of the region reacted in vastly differen...
Agate RhytonHarold Van Pelt (American, 1925-)Agate, gold and quartzL.2016.21.21a,bLoan courtesy of Harold and Erica Van Pelt Lapidarist Extraordinaire Tomorrow marks the fifth anniversary of the reopening of Gemstone Carvings: The Masterworks of Harold Van Pelt, an ongoing display of sculptural and functional carvings made by the Californian expert...
Pío Pico's Carriage, 19th CenturyCaliforniaMetal, wood and leather; 57 3/4 × 57 1/2 × 132 in.3945Gift of Mrs. Thomas L. McFadden Shared Birthday Holidays, like all traditions, change over time; this is especially true of Cinco de Mayo. Its origin dates back to May 5, 1862 when a relatively small Mexican force repelled a much larger, better-equipped...
Detail of Lost in the Wood, 1928May E. Schaetzel (American, 1870-1952); ParisGouache on paper; 26 1/4 x 20 3/4 in.31414Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jules Schaetzel Anticonfluentialism Uncertainty is the birthplace of anxiety, it is an ailment remedied only by omniscience, and in sufficiently high doses it is suffocating. But it is a boon too. All hope that...
Lime Spatulas, 20th CenturyMassim culture; Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaWood, bone, shell, turtle shell, beads and pigments2006.12.1, 2015.7.15, 2017.10.94, 2017.10.114, L.2022.4.8Gift of Mr. Michael Hamson, Anonymous Gifts and Loans Social Chew-bricant Many travelers to Papua New Guinea are struck by the practice of chewing betel...
Three Spanish Figures (enhanced by Commodify®), c. 1915Charles Percy Austin (American, 1883-1948)Oil on canvas; 72 × 36 in.32195cGift of Mr. Ralph J. Steven End of an Era Lukewarm on the heels of last year’s announcement that the Bowers Museum is implementing Asinus Inc.’s groundbreaking EyinHance™ software, the Bowers Blog is excited to announce a...
Edited Campaign Poster for Douglas Corrigan, 1946American Way Committee and Majestic Poster Press; Inglewood, CaliforniaPaper and ink; 11 x 14 in.93.8.2Gift of Ms. Rosamond Markin St. Patrick’s Day Airshow A day most often paired with green beer, statistically improbable displays of four-leaf clovers, and desperate wishes that the pinch-happy among...
Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle, c. 1900Lou Page Hickox (American, 1874-1915); Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 7 x 4 3/8 in.31008AGift of Mrs. Alice Smith Continental Abode of Waffles This past Tuesday was International Women’s Day, a holiday falling during Women’s History Month which is dedicated to celebrating women and looking at the contribut...
Trap Used to Snare Last Grizzly Bear of Orange County, 1865-1888Made by Sewell Newhouse; Oneida Community, New YorkSteel; 34 1/2 x 24 1/4 x 7 3/8 in.2433.1Gift of Mr. & Mrs. William B. Rochester Murder Most Grisly There is a reason that you hear a lot more about mountain lion attacks in the hills of Orange County than you do grizzly bear attack...
Sand and Trees, c. 1950Ralph Love (American, 1907-1992)Oil on canvas; 20 x 24 in.2010.5.1Vernon & Carolyn R. Cunningham Family Trust Saving the Everest for Last Just this week the Bowers Museum opened Everest: Ascent to Glory, an exhibition organized in collaboration with the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) and curated by the award-winnin...
Scholar’s Desk, Ming Dynasty style (1368-1644)ChinaWoodL.2013.9.7Loan Courtesy of Anne and Long Shung Shih All Four What Through the past 2,000 years of Chinese intellectualism, Chinese scholars have been greatly respected for their dedication to the study of philosophy, classical literature, poetry, and the teachings of Confucius. A scholar’s area...
Field and Seating Area of the Olympic Stadium, 1932Unknown Photographer; Los Angeles, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 4 1/4 x 2 3/4 in.32352A.1Gift of Lonnie Edward Thompson Beijing Olympics 2: Electric Boogaloo The 2022 Winter Olympics are set to open tomorrow, on February 4, 2022, featuring what promises to be yet another incredible display of athl...
Pottery Mask, early to mid 20th CenturyBoiken culture; East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaCeramic; 7 1/4 × 7 1/2 × 5 in.2009.2.1Bowers Museum Purchase Plastic Art, Clay Medium Whereas sculptures and masks were carved from wood by many of the cultures of Papua New Guinea, non-utilitarian ceramics were a rarity for all but a handful of t...
Detail of Photograph of Madame Modjeska, 1894Photographed by Jan W. Idzikowski; Chicago, IllinoisSepia-tone Photograph on Paper; 6 ½ x 4 ¼ in.30926a.2Gift of Percy and Tony Dickel Auld Lang Signs Madame Helena Modjeska wishes you all a Happy New Year from the Bowers Museum! Here she is above, regally dressed for the occasion. In this photograph, He...
Morning Mist, mid 20th CenturyJames Patrick (American, 1911 - 1944); CaliforniaWatercolor on paper; 14 × 17 1/2 in.2018.6.21Ann and Bill Cullen Memorial Collection Gloom Havens All those early morning commuters in the central Orange County area will know just how foggy it has been in recent days. While individuals may be split on whether being swad...
Christmas Tree Decorations, early to mid 20th CenturyUnknown Maker; EuropeCeramic and fabric; various dimensions75.22Gift Maxine A. Miller Tree for the Price of One The practice of bringing trees and outdoor greens into the household has been practiced for centuries during the winter season. The ancient Egyptians, Romans, Vikings, and Druids, for e...
Feast Bowl (Pakaka), 20th CenturyMolokai, Hawaii, PolynesiaKao wood; 5 7/8 x 12 x 12 1/2 in.2006.7.3Jordan Community Trust Purchase Molokai Made Dishes such as this one from Hawaii’s Molokai Island are called calabash bowls because their earliest antecedents were cut from gourds. The first Western visitors to the Hawaiian Islands documented the use...
Mummy Mask, 332 BCE-330 CE (late Ptolemaic to early Roman period)probably Faiyum Governorate, Egypt Linen, plaster, gold leaf and pigment; 15 × 12 3/4 × 10 1/2 in.2003.38.1Gift of Ramona Ward Trading Faces The earliest Egyptians to enjoy the ornate decorations and elaborate funerary rites of being mummified were royalty. It was believed that they a...
Bowers Thanksgiving Showcase83.33.18a,b, 88.33.34, 359276.6-.7 and 32873.8-.9Gifts of Mr. & Mrs. Edgar L. Marchesini, Miss Muriel Anderson, and Dr. & Mrs. Emory S. Moore, Jr. #FoodMotivated Thanksgiving is on the record as being a day about giving thanks, but a quick analysis of the time your average American gives thanks on the holiday as ...
Composite formed from several objects in the Gift of Barbara Lackey Sense and Sensationalism Living in Ecuador along the headwaters of one of the major tributaries of the Amazon are the Shuar (Jivaro), a cultural group who have occupied roughly the same territory since at least the arrival of Europeans to the area. They are horticulturalists well-k...
Doctored version of 81.11.25BGift of Mrs. D.C. Edwards Pumpkin Among Kin Though pumpkins take a great many autumnal forms—not the least of which are the delicious Thanksgiving staple of pumpkin pie or the PSLs (pumpkin spice lattes) first brewed in the corporate cauldrons of Starbucks—perhaps the most iconic are the carved pumpkins seen before and ...
Portrait of Madam Helena Modjeska, 1883Wyatt Eaton (Canadian, 1849-1896)Charcoal on paper; 21 x 25 5/8 in.17261Gift of Marylka Modjeska Pattison Google It Those who let Google Doodles break their concentration long enough to investigate what they commemorate will know that this past Tuesday, October 12th was Madame Helena Modjeska’s 181st birthday....
Skirts (Nshak), early to mid 20th CenturyKuba culture; Kuba Kingdom, Democratic Republic of the CongoRaffia, cotton thread and pigment2019.15.42,.44-.46Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih Human Tapestry Donned by cultures across the globe, textiles of all kinds are a second skin, helping to define who we are as individuals. In English, one might say t...
Throwing Knife, 19th CenturyKapsiki culture; Cameroon or NigeriaIron, rubber and cloth; 24 1/8 x 5 3/8 in.2003.43.91Anonymous GiftThrowing Knife (Ngwolo), 19th CenturyNgombe culture; Democratic Republic of the CongoIron, wood; 19 3/8 x 12 1/2 in.2003.43.92Anonymous GiftThrowing Knife (Sengese), 19th CenturyMafa culture; Cameroon or NigeriaIron, fib...
Carved Tusk, late Qing dynasty to Republic of China (1870-1949)ChinaIvory; 69 1/4 in.34475-34476Gift of Vernor G. and Edith P. Rich Relephant Information Ivory remains a hotly debated topic for museums. The rampant poaching of endangered elephants has rightfully led to international bans on the trade of ivory, but many museums around the world hous...
Children’s Festival Hat, Qing dynasty (1644-1912)ChinaCotton, silk and fiber; 11 x 10 in.2001.1.47Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Long Shung and Anne Shih Children of Many Hats Medicine and hygiene standards in rural China during the Qing dynasty (1644–1912) meant that many children did not live to see the end of their first 100 days. This tragedy w...
Snuff Bottles, 19th to 20th CenturyHan culture; ChinaVarious mediums97.11.52.1-.2, 97.11.65.1-.2, 98.56.14a,b, 98.56.27a,b, and 99.71.100.1-.2Gift of Dr. Murray and Brett Via No-Smoking Policy Tobacco was first brought to China around the turn of the 17th century. Portuguese Jesuit missionaries entering the country to proselytize often brough...
Collage of Anthony Heinsbergen (Dutch-born American, 1894-1981) and various designs Let Bygones be Restored In the golden age of film, when cinemas were the vehicles of choice for transporting us to universes unknown, every city in the United States had at least one brilliant theater at its center. Though many have since been demolished, repu...
Gayle's Gift This past weekend the Bowers Museum opened the doors of The Gift of Los Angeles: Memories in Watercolor by Gayle Garner Roski, a retrospective exhibition celebrating the life of Gayle Garner Roski. As a holistic look at the wonderful LA artist’s relationship to the city she was born in and loved, an exploration of Gayle’s personal life...
Detail of 2018.6.9Ann and Bill Cullen Memorial Collection Georges Paint Gorgeous Gorges Posts about artists in the Ann and Bill Cullen Collection have come in staggered bursts since the bequest was first received back in the late summer of 2018, but we once again find ourselves with a suitable cause to look at this donation as an exhibition dedicat...
Detail of Gong (Kyizi), 19th to 20th CenturyMyanmarBrass; 8 1/8 × 12 1/2 × 3/4 in.2020.14.19Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih Melodies of Late Summer Like the visual arts, there is a universality to music that is only affected by a handful of factors. Just as a culture’s paintings are influenced by the brushes they use; their music is a product of t...
Women Riding a Horse on the Steps of a Building, 1960-1980Rene Laursen Photography (American); Irvine, California Photographic print; 10 x 8 in. 31704.138Gift of Mr. Rene Laursen The Ranking Time is an ocean and a river and a sun-dried puddle—there could always be more of it but most of the time we get by and appreciate what we’ve got. This week th...
Roma, early 20th CenturyEttore Forti (Italian, 1880 – 1920)Oil on canvas; 25 1/2 x 45 in.F83.16.2Anonymous Gift Augustus and Everything After Most know August as that sweltering month nestled between Fourth of July and Labor Day. Parents and students alike mark their August calendars as the month that school starts, a wonderful boon or tragic end o...
Cave Figure (Aripa), 1600-1800Ewa culture; Karawari River area, Middle Sepik River region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaWood and paintF81.2.1-.3Bowers Museum Foundation Acquisition Fund Purchase Subterranean Features and Foibles Caves are notoriously dark, dank, cold, and dangerous—rife with pitfalls both literal and allegorical....
Rogers is So Sleepy, April 20, 1864William Henri Bonney (American, 1841-1867); Camp Nelson, KentuckyPencil on paper; 5 × 8 in.17450Gift of Mr. R. H. Hill Uncivil at Best Causes are just or unjust, but war is indisputably an awful thing for individuals. Fought over slavery and states’ rights, America’s Civil War was the bloodiest in the nation’s his...
Captain Wanderwell Filming Seminole Women in Front of Car, 1921Unknown photographer; Miami, FloridaPhotograph; 3 1/4 x 4 3/8 in.95.24.1Gift of the Walter Baker Trust Tall Tale, 6” To Be Exact The best biographical stories are those that are so wonderfully implausible that it is impossible to tell if they are fabricated or just stranger than fiction...
Academy Award of Merit (Oscar), 1929California Bronze Foundry; Los Angeles, CaliforniaBronze; 11 3/4 x 5 1/4 in.76.30.15Gift of the Estate of Paula Nelli Premiere Time With the 93rd Academy Awards now behind us and an exciting historic win for Chloé Zhao as the first woman of color to receive an Oscar for Best Picture, one might wonder about the hi...
Metate in Form of a Jaguar with Repeating Parrot Motif, 4th-7th CenturyGuanacaste-Nicoya Zone;Costa RicaVolcanic stone; 12 3/8 x 11 5/8 x 30 1/4 in.97.40.1Dr. James Block Pick and Dr. Rosalyn M. Laudati Fund Purchase Food for the Soul A quick glance at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs—a food pyramid of sorts for mental sustenance—reveals that physical s...
Point Pink, c. 1955Edward Kienholz (American, 1927-1994)Oil on canvas; 48 x 48 in.F80.62.2Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin R. Gamson Edward Kienholz is best known for his 1960's large scale assemblages of found objects, urban detritus, and knick knacks arranged into environments or tableaux that comment on unpleasant social and cultural aspects of life. ...
Toile de Jouy Fabric Depicting America's Founding, 18th to 19th CenturyJouy-en-Josas, FrancePrinted linen; 21 x 21 in.7191a,bGift of Mrs. Thomas Walsh Independence Day Though every day is an opportunity to celebrate one’s patriotism, Independence Day is a special opportunity to enjoy things that truly are as American as apple pie. Given that the Un...
Bowers Museum’s Bell Tower, c. 1932Edward W. Cochems (American, 1874-1949); Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 11 x 14 in.38107.11Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Borders Same Blog, New Home This week the Bowers Blog is happy to announce a re-release on a new platform! As we continue to improve the way in which we share our collections, we take...
Pipe, 1200-1500Purepecha (Phurépecha) culture; Michoacan, MexicoTerracotta and red slip; 3 9/16 x 1 7/16 x 14 15/16 in.2003.10.31Gift of Peter G. Wray The People Beside picturesque Lake Pátzcuaro in the state of Michoacán, Mexico lies the ancient Purepecha capital, Tzintzuntzan, and the tiered, rounded pyramids, known as yácatas. The Purepecha (or ...
Horse Head Sculpture, late 18th to 19th CenturyTibetan culture; Tibet Autonomous Region, ChinaBronze and pigments; 13 1/4 × 2 1/8 × 5 1/8 in.2021.5.1Gift of Virginia Rooney Head Above the Rest The Tibet Autonomous Region, referred to here as Tibet, is nestled against the Himalayas in the southwest of China. Backed by the roof of the world, the spra...
J.M. Wyne with Daughter, c. 1918Unknown Photographer; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 7 x 5 1/8 in.34843AGift of Mrs. Charles Snow Dad-ubon Society As Father’s Day again rolls around, this year the Bowers Blog attempts to offer a rare bit of insight into some of the more common variants of fathers endemic to North America. Rarely studied f...
The State Exclamation The 7th to 13th of June is Museum Week, an annual global event which celebrates museums. The different days of the week are marked with hashtags or themes through which museums can share their collections. Today’s is #EurekaMW, an opportunity to look at some innovations in our collections which may have prompted the maker to s...
Detail of 2017.10.39Anonymous Gift First There Was Orb If you have never taken that extra moment’s pause to ponder the nature of coconuts, consider this post an invitation to do just that. The palm-grown orbs are surprisingly versatile, and their appearance may just drupe you into thinking that they are something they are not. That is not a typo, c...
Maze Stone, date unknownTongva culture; Trabuco Canyon, Orange County, CaliforniaStone1936.1.1Bowers Museum Collection Show and Tell The Bowers Blog has, on several occasions, featured objects from our Margaret & Cleo Key Courtyard. Originally designed to complement the museum’s mission revival style aesthetic, over the years it has been a home...
Detail of F7667Martha C. Stevens Memorial Art Collection Gloom and Bloom While the Bowers Blog tends to feature Southern Californian painters, there is a surprising variety of works by non-Californian artists in the museum’s collection. Searching our Fine Art Department for the dichotomous pairing of a gloomy and sunny painting—it seemed only appro...
36502, 91.26.293, 32211.10 and 1932.2.1Gifts of Mrs. Frank Hodge, Roy and Bentley Dillard and Bowers Museum Collection Author’s Note May 12 was National Limerick Day. It is a holiday which celebrates the birth of the limerick’s creator and titan of absurdity: Edward Lear. His banner creation is a short, often but not necessarily bawdy poem in anape...
Sombreros, c. 1900Unknown Maker; MexicoFelt, cotton, straw, sequins and horsehairF78.44.3a,eBowers Museum Purchase Return of the FifthThough often confused as being a celebration of Mexican independence from Spain, Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) marks the victory of the Mexican army over a much larger colonial force from Napoleonic France. The holiday is ...
Emancipation Proclamation, 1865Augustus Hageboech (German-born American); Davenport, IowaLithograph on paper; 20 x 17 in.32744Gift of Mrs. Pearl Wall LangMary Lincoln Doll, late 19th to early 20th CenturyUnknown MakerCotton and papier-mâché37951Gift of Mrs. Lilian Norman GallyAbraham Lincoln Doll, mid 20th CenturyMuriel Bruyere; Los Angeles, Califo...
Detail of 86.47.10Gift of Junius & Angeline HolteDetail of Brocade Worn by Madame Modjeska (5002G)Gift of Myrtle Blakeslee Your First Carson It is a rare history of Earth Day that does not at some point mention Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. Though the first day dedicated to restoring the environment—held on April 22, 1970—coalesced from m...
Celestial Crowns, 20th CenturyYao culture; Yunnan Province, ChinaSilver, copper, zinc, cloth and hair2007.23.10, 2015.26.10.1-.2Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih and Anonymous Gift Sweet Sixteen Different cultures around the world come of age at different times and mark that rite of passage in different ways. In the United States a sweet sixteen mig...
Madame Modjeska in her Forest of Arden with EyinHance™ filter applied, 1916Frank Coburn (American, 1862-1938)Oil on wood panel; 20 3/4 x 25 3/4 in. 3821Gift of Frank Coburn Emperor’s New Eyes Every artist to have ever painted a portrait knows that if they fail to capture the sitter’s eyes, that they have failed in their task to capture the ess...
Anne Shih posing in front of terracotta warriors, 2012 Heart of Gold This Women’s History Month the Bowers Blog has looked at some of the great women responsible for building up the Bowers Museum from scratch, instituting a modern system of record keeping for the Bowers’ permanent collection, and donating an incredible collection California scene p...
Ada E. Bowers Memorial Fountain c. 1980Mrs. Ada Elvira Bowers c. 1915Ada E. Bowers Memorial Fountain, 2009 Font of Knowledge Eighty years ago this week, Mrs. Ada Bowers passed away and left both the city of Santa Ana and Orange County with a wonderful gift. It was Ada’s death on February 28, 1931 that allowed the building of the Charles W. Bowers M...
Photograph of Ada and Charles Bowers with Home, c. 1910Unknown photographer; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print88AGift of Charles and Ada Bowers Two Openings Two important events in the history of the Bowers Museum occurred during this week of February in 1932 and in 1936.
The beautiful white home shown in this rare...
Untitled Paintings, 1989-1992Ann Cullen (American, 1928 - 2018); CaliforniaWatercolor on paper2018.6.50-.51Ann and Bill Cullen Memorial Collection Renaissance Woman This Women’s History Month the Bowers Blog has focused on some of the great women that have been associated with the Bowers Museum. Today’s post looks at a donor and artist responsible ...
Swords, 19th to 20th Century Ngombe or Poto culture; Democratic Republic of the CongoWood, leather, metal, fur and fiberF79.58.2, F80.49.26, F79.59.2, 2003.42.29 and 2013.12.3Gifts of Dr. and Mrs. Myron Klapper, Mr. and Mrs. Jon Herman, Dr. and Mrs. Iwao Kawakami, Susan Lerer and David Poiry Old Knives Tale Swords once played a vital role in warfar...
Photograph of Margaret Key, c. 1986 Successors As difficult as it is to start something from scratch, most will attest that picking up someone else’s work can be every bit as difficult. As we dive deeper into Women’s History Month, this second post in a series on the great women associated with the Bowers looks at Margaret Key who started at the mu...
Bessie Beth Coulter, c. 1927Unknown photographer; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 6 7/8 × 5 in.32505.20Bowers Museum Collection An Object in Motion As any who have ever combatted inertia can attest—presumably all of us—it is far more difficult to start something than it is to keep it in motion. March is Women’s History Month, and this year...
Detail of Untitled (Mexican Men with Ox Cart), early 20th CenturyClay Kelly (American, 1874-?); MexicoPencil on paper; 4 1/2 x 11 in.33317.31Gift of Mrs. Clay Kelly Legen-Dairy Creatures Earlier in this month the Bowers Museum celebrated the Chinese New Year with our Virtual Chinese New Year Festival for which we are having an encore showing t...
Detail of 37521Gift of Mr. Carl French Burns Santa Ana Stars Santa Ana has been home to many stars, and a venue for far more. For example, the city’s stages were graced in the late years of the 19th century by the presence of perhaps the best Shakespearean actress of her day, Poland’s Madame Helena Modjeska. However, in those days it would have bee...
New Traditions Respectively popularized by the 2001-2010 hospital comedy Scrubs and a 2010 episode of Parks and Recreation, bromances—platonic love between two male friends—and the February 13th celebration of female friendships called Galentine’s Day are both relatively recent creations, but the sentiments which they represent date back to antiqui...
Eight is Enough, 1979Ed Dwight (American, 1933-); ColoradoBronze and wood; 17 1/2 x 25 x 21 1/2 in.81.83.1Gift of the Artist Outer Space to Creative Space Ed Dwight is a man who has worn many hats over his lifetime. Real estate and construction entrepreneur, restaurateur, engineer, marketing representative, Air Force test pilot, the first Black ast...
New Zealand Council House, late 19th CenturyLouis Buderus; East St., Rockhampton, Queensland, AustraliaPhotographic print; 2 1/2 x 4 1/8 in.93.41.30Gift of Mr. E. Morgan Stanley Days Gone By Back in the days where proper business conduct involved handshakes rather than batting away all would-be violators of personal space with two yardsticks duct t...
Rare Mediums, Done Well Despite being closed to the public the Bowers Museum is excited to announce that this Saturday is the virtual opening of our long-awaited Treasures in Gold & Jade: Masterworks from Taiwan, featuring pieces from two artists: Wu Ching who creates gold casts from wood carvings and Huang Fu-shou who carves sculptures from ja...
Sculpture of Lord Ganesh, 18th CenturyIndiaWood and paint; 9 x 3 5/8 in.99.56.21 Gift of Mr. Michael Phillips Ushering In Yesterday’s inauguration came with a message that everyone in this country can get behind: unity. As the United States moves into a new chapter of combating pandemic, financial hardship, and racial inequality, we can all agree t...
Orí, the Head Orí, the Yoruba word for head is also the complicated god of the head and destiny in the Yoruban pantheon. In the traditional Yoruba religion of southwest Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, before one is born they stand before a wall of potential destinies and choose their own ìbòrí, which directly translates to ‘inner head’ but as with O...
Repel Evil and Bring Good Fortune, 2017Tang Jian-Feng (Taiwanese); probably TaiwanWatercolor on paper; 20 7/8 × 20 7/8 in.2020.11.4Gift of Jack J. Liang Getting Round Around the end of 2017, the Taiwanese artist Jack J. Liang reached out to seventeen of his contemporaries to create a series of eighteen watercolor on paper circular paintings each in...
Shaw in uniform, 1940s True Patriot What does it mean to be a patriot? Many of us may have been asking ourselves that and similar questions over the last day. On Veteran’s Day the Bowers Museum opened Test of Medal: Charles J. Shaw and the Montford Point Marines which tells the story of Charles J. Shaw, one of the first Blacks to join the United St...
Group of drinking vessels from the Bowers Museum2017.11.24, 97.50.48, 2019.7.5, and 83.32.20 Hindsight is 2020 No matter how you slice it, 2020 has been a year for the books. As we look back on 365 days fraught with natural disasters, a growing feeling of social unrest and a looming threat of pandemic, it is easy to only remember the bad. For many ...
Shell Currency (Mwali), late 20th CenturyMilne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaConus shell, beads, shell, wood, fiber and rope; 13 3/4 × 12 × 3 1/2 in.2014.15.18Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Danny and Anne ShihExchange Necklace (Bagi), early to mid 20th CenturyRossel Island, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaShell and twine; 20 × 2 1/4...
Charles J. Shaw II at the Bar-B-Que Pit, mid 20th Century Grilling the Kids Just before the Bowers Museum closed to the public, we opened Test of Medal: Charles J. Shaw and the Montford Point Marines, which tells the story of Charles J. Shaw II, the first Black Marine to train an integrated platoon of marines. Our last post in the series on his lif...
Tustin's Peanut Cornucopia at the Parade of Products, 1905-1906Unknown photographer; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 5 x 7 in.17429Gift of Mrs. Lucy Lockett Cornucopia Those of us who are familiar with the story of the Pilgrims’ arrival in Plymouth know that they would have perished in a harsh winter had it not been for the help of Tisquan...
Street Scene in the Rain, c.1921Frank Coburn (American, 1862-1938)Oil on canvas; 23 × 27 1/2 in.3953Gift of Georgia DeLong in memory of her brother, Frank Coburn Beginning For painters like Frank Coburn, capturing beauty began with finding it in places where few others could see it. Much of Coburn’s oeuvre is represented by the bright and picturesq...
Forest of Arden, c. 1916Frank Coburn (American, 1862-1938)Oil on wood panel; 20 3/4 x 25 3/4 in.3821Gift of Frank CoburnUntitled (Madam Modjeska at Arden), c. 1910Photographer unknownPrinted paper; 10 3/8 x 7 7/8 in.4568Gift of Everett C. Maxwell Photorealism Artist Frank Coburn painted this image from a published photograph of the famous Polish-bo...
Untitled (Woman with Two Changelings), 1962Pitseolak Ashoona (Inuit, 1904-1983); Cape Dorset, Nunavut Territory, CanadaEngraving on paper; 17 3/4 × 23 1/2 × 5/8 in.2013.8.6Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Burton W. Fink National Native American Heritage Month The rapid technological advances of the 20th century presented more change than any other in human his...
New exhibition on the life of Charles J. Shaw II, running from November 11, 2020 to January 10, 2021 Veteran’s Day Originally marking the armistice ending World War I, Veteran’s Day has become an annual reminder to thank all the brave men and women in the United States armed forces. The Bowers Museum has celebrated this Veteran’s Day with an exhibi...
Black-on-Black Ware Vessel, 1920-1930Unknown Artist; Santa Clara Pueblo, New MexicoCeramic and pigment; 11 x 9 in.F83.17.1Gift of Mrs. Geraldine Davis National Native American Heritage Month When we think about the beautiful pottery vessels of the Southwest, we most likely conjure the image of brilliantly colorful polychrome vessels. Of course, Nat...
Gravestone of Charles and Ada Bowers at Fairhaven Memorial, some additional spookiness added for effect. All Hallows’ Eve While the Halloween spirit might be somewhat diminished in a year in which unmasked children coming to your door asking for candy are more frightening than a monster doing the same, it is even more important to take a brea...
Scroll Paintings, c. 1930-1968Lin Yu-shan (Taiwanese, 1907-2004) and Chang Lee Tekhoe (Taiwanese, 1893-1972); TaiwanInk on paper2020.2.1,.3-.5Gift of Aloysius F. Kuo Good Things Come in Threes Aside from clues in their subject matter, many paintings do not immediately bely their geographical origin. Back in February of this year the Bowers Museum r...
Chair (Ngundja), early 20th to mid CenturyChokwe culture; AngolaWood, metal and leather; 19 1/2 x 10 1/2 x 13 in.2007.4.55Gift of the Roschen Family Trust Have a Seat Driving to and from work, sitting at a desk, relaxing on the couch—we spend much of our time sitting down without paying too much attention to what we are sitting in. But as thrones, ...
Digging Sticks, 20th CenturyAbelam culture; East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia Wood and paint99.76.141; 2011.13.4; 97.138.1; and 2015.7.2Anonymous Gift; Bowers Museum Purchase; Anonymous Gift; and Gift of Mr. Michael Hamson Induction In the United States we understand competition all too well. We compete with neighbors over having the...
Vessel and Bowl, 1200-1500Taíno culture; Dominican RepublicCeramic99.20.3,.16Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Warren and Nancy Lampkin Indigenous Peoples’ Day Several months ago, the Bowers Blog looked at two Taíno woodcarvings in the Bowers Museum’s collections. In the post we discussed how the culture was the first group to greet Columbus’ expedition and how...
Portrait of Don Bernardo Yorba, c. 1850Henri Pénelon (French, 1827-1885)Oil on canvas, gilt frame; 24 ½ x 19 ¾ x 1 ¼ in.5070Gift of Mrs. Herman Locke and Bernardo Marcus Yorba, Jr. Lasting Legacy It is important to remember that especially in California the first Hispanic Americans did not immigrate to the country, but already lived here when Mexic...
Detail of Untitled, 1992Emigdio Vasquez (American 1939-2014)Oil on Canvas; 48 x 68 in.2001.46.1Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Robert S. Barnes The Godfather National Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15th as a celebration of the cultures and contributions of Americans whose families came from Latin America and Spain. Ending on October 15, the mon...
Glyph Panel, probably Classic Period (250-900)Maya culture; Palenque, Chipas, MexicoCarved limestone; 45 1/2 x 23 in.2000.40.2The Dr. Eli B. and Aimee Cohen Memorial Collection Block Letters Even prior to Spanish colonization of the Americas, many of the ancient cities of the Maya had already been long since abandoned in favor of new metropolises. ...
The Bowers Museum's new Miao Masters of Silver installation. Quarter of a Thousand Shining Moons The Bowers Museum is reopening its doors to the public this Saturday, September 12 with a brand-new installation in our East West Bank Gallery: Miao Masters of Silver. Due in large part to the generous support of Anne Shih, the Bowers owns perhaps the f...
Miniature Basket (Hösig Di), mid to late 20th CenturyEmberá or Wounaan culture; Darién Province, PanamaPalm fibers (astrocaryum standleyanum and carludovica palmata) and natural pigments; 2 x 3 3/8 x 3 3/8 in.2020.9.53Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih Oh, What an Untangled Baskets They Weave Over the globe various basketry techniques are employed to...
Photograph of Thomas J. Scully, date unknown Unknown photographerPhotographic print; 9 7/8 x 7 in.8119Gift of Miss Mary Scully In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, we honor one of America’s many influential Irish immigrants, Thomas J. Scully. Today he’s not a household name, but in the early years of California’s statehood his name would certainly ...
Group of Figural Netsuke, 20th CenturyJapanIvory and pigments88.31.280-.31Gift of City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks Obi One Clothing not having pockets is an annoyance that inevitably demands some creative solution; be it a purse, backpack, or fanny pack—the ultimate marriage of style and comfort in object toting. In Japan’s Ed...
Low Tide, c. 1920Anna Althea Hills (American, 1882-1930)Oil on canvas; 7 x 10 in.F7748Martha C. Stevens Memorial Art Collection Centennial August 18, 2020 marks one hundred years since the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was ratified, giving most women in the United States the right to vote. In California, Proposition 4 of 1911 had alre...
Formerly Sielanka (An Idyll), 1885Jozef Chelmonski (Polish, 1849-1914)Oil on canvas; 46 x 28 in.7601Gift of the Estate of Amadeus Gustavus Langenberger Stormy Weather Ahead This pastoral scene of two Polish peasants in a moment of repose is among the most iconic works in the Bowers Museum’s Fine Art Collection. Up to this point it has been known on...
Armlet, c.1885Paris, FranceGold, emerald and stone; 5 1/2 x 4 3/8 x 4 1/8 in.2884Gift of Mr. & Mrs. James Willis Rice Playing a RoleSoft kid leather gold boots laced with gold braid and an armlet in the shape of a snake were part of Madame Modjeska’s costume for her role in Cleopatra. Madame Helena Modjeska (1840-1909) was considered the premie...
Picnic on the Beach, 1880-1899Newport Beach, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 5 3/4 x 6 3/4 in.6964BTerry E. Stephenson Collection Where We Would Rather Be It is the height of summer and though many of us would enjoy a typical beach day spent with friends or family, social distancing and other precautions taken for this year’s pandemic have thrown a w...
Miniature Painting and Easel, 20th CenturyPossibly Claire M. Doret (Swiss-born American, 1887-1982)Oil on canvas and wood; 6 x 4 in.99.36.33.1,.7Gift of Mrs. Katherine Hotchkiss Small World After All With some of the Bowers Museum’s most impressive objects unarguably being the largest, it can be all too easy to let smaller objects in the collection...
Rootstock Club (Vunikau), mid 19th CenturyFiji, MelanesiaWood; 46 x 3 1/2 x 3 3/8 in.2020.5.1Bowers Museum Purchase Hit Square with a Root The fundamentals of warfare are in large part the same across all cultures and all times: there is a point of contention and so the sides—whatever they might be—rally a force and attack an enemy with weapons. As...
Miniature Carved Face, 20th CenturyWax and walnut shell; 1 1/4 x 1 1/8 x 1/2 in.99.36.42Gift of Mrs. Katherine Hotchkiss The Bowers Museum prides itself in many things. Fantastic collections from Oceania and China, world class exhibitions and a slice of Orange County all under one roof. Only rarely though does the Bowers bring contemporary American...
Brandy Still, c. 1776-1831Southern CaliforniaCopper; 53 x 36 in.2810Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John Forster Name Brandy The earliest brandies, used medicinally, appear to date back to 13th century France, but stories hold that the first commercial brandy was created, as many things are, almost completely by accident. In the 16th century a Dutch trader di...
Detail of Bebe Daniels Imprisoned in Orange County Jail, 1921Unknown photographer; Santa Ana, Orange County, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 7 x 5 in.34636Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Weston Walker Paying the Toll Back in February the Bowers Blog looked at one reason why Hollywood stars were stopping by early Santa Ana in Saint Ann’s Inn: Santa Ana’s Love Sh...
Orange County Courthouse after Completion, 20th CenturyUnknown Photographer; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 10 x 8 in.7019.21Terry E. Stephenson Collection Justice Just Is This year has been one of remembrance and celebration as 2019 marks Santa Ana’s sesquicentennial. With posts on the city’s earliest land holders, the origins of the fir...
Santa Ana Women’s Marching Club, c.1900Unknown Photographer; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 6.25 x 10 in.6641Terry E. Stephenson Collection These women with matching uniforms and caps that bear the initials W M C are part of the Santa Ana Women’s Marching Club. Especially in the late 19th century, citizens across the country formed...
Santa Ana Rats, early 20th CenturyB.F. Conaway; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic Print; 8 x 10 in.8484Bowers Museum Collection This One’s for You, Pop It is difficult to make any sort of overarching generalizations about fathers, but all the same most would agree that the fatherly gestalt is a sports fan. Whether it is abruptly yelling at a TV abo...
Don Bernardo Yorba’s House, c. 1910Unknown Photographer; Santa Ana Canyon, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 8 x 10 in.8478Terry E. Stephenson Collection Variations of a City In both Forged in Fire Safety: The First Santa Ana Fire Department and A Beginner’s Guide to Santa Ana Street Names the Bowers Blog has previously looked at the early hi...
Map of Santa Ana, 1915Clyde D. Butler and Geo L. Bates; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPaper and ink; 20 × 25 5/8 in.17481Bowers Museum Permanent Collection Spurgeons, Surgeons and Spurred Dons For those of us who live in, work in or enjoy any of the myriad offerings of Santa Ana, we have spent hundreds, if not thousands of hours traversing the county seat’s...
Detail of Marguerite, c. 1909Guy Rose (American, 1867-1925); FranceOil on canvas; 15 x 19 inF7693 Martha C. Stevens Memorial Art Collection Stemming from California In the 19th and 20th centuries the natural splendor of California made it a mecca for artists. Its coast a gem of glittering sapphire, golden sands rising to palisades, and sun in the s...
Quilt, c. 1920Maker unknown; United StatesCotton, fabric and flannel; 47 1/4 x 40 1/4 in.32147AGift of the Fredda Barger Estate Murky Territory Aside from the places we have traditionally seen the American flag since it was first introduced in 1777, it seems like every year it appears in more and more unexpected situations. In 2020 one is as likely...
Pieced Patchwork Quilt, after 1892American; Made by Madam Schumann-Heink (1881-1936)Silk, sateen, ribbon and cotton; 68 x 59.5 in.39680Gift of Mrs. Dorothy F. Sorensen This visually outstanding quilt in a Chinese Coins or Roman Stripe pattern was hand pieced together by Madam Schumann-Heink. Eight strips of ribbon and colored silks are separ...
Impresiones de Egipto, Plancha 6, 1982Francisco Zúñiga (Costa Rican-born Mexican, 1912-1998)Lithograph on Arches; 13 ¾ x 19 ¾ in.2016.5.13Anonymous Gift A Man of Many Renaissances Part of the incredible nature of art is the scope of what it depicts. From nonrepresentational paintings capturing feelings to photorealistic portraits, artists define th...
Turbulence, 1960sMildred Scott Townsend, American, (1897-1985)Mixed media on silk; 40 x 50 in.F80.40.5Gift of the Artist A Blur You can lose the forest for the trees, and sometimes it takes getting farther away from something to really be able to see it. Mildred Scott Townsend, an early and mid 20th century Californian painter likely understood thi...
Deity Figure (Zemí), 1100-1500Taino culture; Dominican RepublicWood; 13 3/8 x 5 3/4 x 6 1/4 in.2005.38.1Gift of Nancy Nicola and Warren Lampkin, In memory of Armand Labbe Far from Home Many of us were first taught about Columbus’ new sea route to the Americas in a fun limerick, but the fallen explorer’s time in the western hemisphere is problematic...
Prisoner of War Guillotine Model, 1770-1825Maker UnknownBone and pigment; 15 1/2 x 14 x 5 3/4 in. 2011.25.73Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Burton W. Fink Halloween in May With the very possible exception of May gray, there is not much particularly unsettling about the spring months. In fact, they are stalwartly reputed to be upstanding months by most definit...
Cyborg Cop, 1993Joe Mensah (Ghanaian, 1966 - )Oil on cotton canvas; 68 × 45 in.2014.28.25Gift of Jay and Helen Lavely Man Against Machine “It’s man against machine” wrote Ernie Wolfe, III, referencing the western African nation of Ghana’s art climate and not, for example, the plot of Cyborg Cop. But Cyborg Cop and many of other B-rated films of the...
Shaq Steel, 1998Babs (Ghanaian, 1975 - )Oil on flour sack; 63 × 43 in.2014.28.37Gift of Jay and Helen Lavely New Lingua Franca “World cinema is a lingua franca we all understand,” stated Ernie Wolfe, a Los Angeles based art dealer and collector of Ghanaian film posters in The Atlantic. Ghanaian movie posters are now considered art gall...
New Killers in Town, 1996Jonas Golden Boy (Ghanaian)Oil on cotton canvas; 62 × 47 in.2014.28.30Gift of Jay and Helen Lavely Three is the Magic Number In a world where movie theaters are threatened by a global pandemic, one group offers a respite from the doldrums of home quarantine: Ghanaian poster painters. Three long years have passed since the h...
Men wearing tatanua masks at a sing-sing in Libba Village, New Ireland, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea.Taken during the Roski-Keller-Martin Expedition to the New Ireland Province in 2008. Acceptance When we think of masks in western culture, we most often think of tools used to disguise one’s identity. In most other cultures in the w...
Detail of Wayside Madonna, 1939Edith Catlin Phelps (American, 1874-1961)Oil on canvas; 40 x 33 1/2 in.32158Gift of Mrs. Edith Catlin Phelps Wow, Upside-Down In today’s world, it is more important than ever to have someone that is always in your corner of the ring, pushing you forward and supporting you. So, let us talk about moms. They not only fit...
Artist's rendition of 2004.66.1.1-.2 and 31901 in dialogue in a futuristic setting. Man: The Lore (ian) This coming Monday marks yet another May the Fourth (be with you) on the Galactic Standard Calendar. While it might be an unremarkable day for the least nerdy of us, for those of us raised on Star Wars the date is as sacred as the Jedi texts. And...
From Sunland Looking Across Valley to Big Tujunga, c. 1925Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel (American, 1875-1954)Watercolor on paper; 14 x 19 9/16 in.F7690Martha C. Stevens Memorial Art Collection This Little Planet Called Home April 22, 2020 marked the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day. Originally held as rallies and walks in major cities throughout ...
Human Tooth Necklace (Vuasagale),18th to19th CenturyFiji, Polynesia, OceaniaHuman teeth, twine and fiber; 7 in.2010.2.1Jordan Community Trust PurchaseThroughout the Pacific region, teeth from a variety of animals were used for trade, personal adornment, and as status symbols. This necklace is strung on a brown fibrous strand with 203 human incisor,...
Baby Carrier with Pleated Ties, 20th CenturyMiao culture; Gulong Town, Guizhou Province, China, AsiaCotton and silk; 23 x 30 in.2008.9.71Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih Miao Mom Weightlifting Club We should be thankful to the wonderful moms in our lives every day, but Mother’s Day is the one day a year we have chosen to distill that love into the ...
Tut Replica, c. 1930Unknown PhotographerPhotographic print99.27.4Gift of Ms. Katherine Hotchkiss Little Mysteries Having been a collecting institution for almost the past 80 years, the Bowers Museum’s collections are, in some cases, rather eclectic. Whether it’s a wreath made from Victorian-era hair art, a Polynesian breadfruit pounder discovered i...
Untitled (Artworks of the Bowers Museum), 1999Raúl Anguiano (Mexican, 1915-2006)Oil on canvas; 101 1/2 x 183 1/2 x 1 1/2 in.99.63.1Gift of Bowers Museum Collectors Council Memory Palace If you have been missing the Bowers Museum as much as we have, then perhaps you too have been walking its halls in your imagination and picturing the placements of ...
Frieda, Ellen and Carolyn performing at the opening of the Bai ra Nagsechel ar Cherchar, 1969Image courtesy of Frieda Wray Beginning of the End The electric opening of the Palau Museum’s Bai ra Nagsechel ar Cherchar was marked with dancing and music, but there is always more going on than meets the senses. In last week’s post the Bowers Blog explor...
Carolyn and Dr. Douglas Osborne, 1968 passport photographsImages courtesy of Frieda Wray Tolúk Back In a previous blog post we showcased two rare tolúk currency pieces from the Osborne Collection which originates from the island country of Palau in southwest Micronesia. Though the post focused more on the objects than their provenance, the donation...
The Bai ra Ngesechel ar Cherchar shortly after being constructedImage courtesy of Frieda Wray Grand Opening Openings are extravagant affairs. If all goes to plan they only happen once, so to commemorate the moment there should be a grand party with musicians, speakers thanking all those involved and, most importantly, there should be a pair of comi...
Bai Model, mid 20th CenturyPalau, MicronesiaWood; 5 1/4 × 3 × 11 3/4 in.2019.17.5Gift of Frieda O. Wray from the Estate of Dr. & Mrs. Douglas and Carolyn Osborne If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home by Now People can meet one another anywhere, but almost all cultures build specialized buildings in which community members can come together to discus...
Glasses, 18th to 20th CenturyVarious Manufacturers; North America and EuropeGlass, metal, plastic and tortoiseshell2000.8.13,.39,.80,.95.,113,.170,.176,.225,.244,.251,.284,.537Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Richard Preston To See or Not to See Twenty-Twenty is perfect vision, it’s said that it is hindsight, and mostly importantly it’s the new year. To better...
Necklace, 1964George Brooks (Czechoslovakian-born American, 1925-); Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSilver, 18 kt yellow gold, ebony and pearls2020.3.1Gift of Mr. George Brooks Jade Laden, Never Jaded Modernist jewelry exploded into popularity between the 1930s and 1960s as a counterculture movement to the highly organic Art Nouveau and rigid Art Deco sty...
Chest, 17th to 18th CenturyPeruLeather, wood and iron; 20 1/2 x 36 x 19 3/4 in.2020.1.1aGift of The Nesselrod Family Trunk Show Luggage is probably most on the mind when you’ve been told by an airline that it’s just barely oversized and that you’ll have to check it, but its history dates as far back as human migration. Longtime visitors to the Bowe...
Hotei Relaxing in a Field, mid to late 20th CenturyMaker Unknown; ChinaPainting on porcelain tile96.52.34Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Herb Hansen Lots of Loves Love is a fairly complex force that can (often insufficiently) be defined as an intense feeling of affection towards family; friends; a significant other; a childhood pet gerbil named Scruffy, rest ...
Fishing Canoe (Taratara), 20th CenturyYami culture; Lanyu (Orchid) Island, TaiwanWood, paint and feather; 81 × 204 × 36 in. 97.8.1Gift of Leon Chen When a Gangway’s Raised a Porthole Opens While the hopes of the Bowers most nautically inclined visitors may be sunk following the departure of Arthur Beaumont: Art of the Sea this past weekend, rest as...
Sycamores, 1918William Wendt (American, 1865-1946)Oil on canvas; 26 3/4 x 42 3/4 x 2 1/4 in.F7678Martha C. Stevens Memorial Art Collection Transcendental State of Mind The great transcendentalists had come and gone by the time the William Wendt first arrived in California with a brush in hand and love of nature in heart and began painting this gold...
Headrests, 20th CenturyNew Guinea, MelanesiaWood2019.22.23; 2015.7.11; 2018.14.37 and 2019.22.29Gifts of Mr. Michael Hamson and Anonymous Donor Island Dreams Barring Boris Karloff’s 1932 rendition of a mummy caught in eternal vertical slumber and perhaps a few other standing sleepers throughout history and literature, most of us sleep in a decidedl...
Detail of 2003.50.37Gift of William R. Moran Weird and Just Downright Weird As part of an ongoing project to classify the Bowers Museum’s collections, our Collections team has reached many an oddball object that does not easily fall into standard categories. Many more have outlandish or wonderfully rare names. Today’s post is a celebration of...
Star of Bethlehem Pattern Quilt, c. 1840Maker unknownCotton; 100 x 100 in.2002.14.86Gift of Mr. William R. Moran Hindsight is This Year With the holiday season now tragically in our rearview, and with us either already returned to our weekly lives or soon to reenter the fray, sometimes it is nice to take one last gander at an aspect of the late ann...
Dagger, 19th Century Admiralty Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, Manus Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaWood, stingray barb, fiber and beads 2019.20.2Bowers Museum Purchase Blade with a Barb The Bowers Blog has previously spent a lot of time focusing on the art of Admiralty Islands, a small chain located in Papua New Guinea’s Bismarck Archipelago....
Marine, Boats in Brittany, c. 1929Edgar Payne (American, 1882-1947)Oil on canvas; 16 1/2 x 19 3/4 x 2 1/2 in.F7600Gift of Mrs. Edgar Payne Not Just Foodsgiving Thanksgiving is a no-nonsense holiday because—as much as we try to take it as a moment to reflect and honor the things in our lives that we are thankful for—the holiday is perhaps most-loved...
Barkcloth Beater (Ike), 19th Century Viti Levu, Fiji, PolynesiaWood; 10 ¼ x 2 5/16 x 2 1/8 in. 2019.20.1Bowers Museum Purchase March to the Beat of your Own Beater Whether made from the sheared wool of adorably cloud-like animals, pulled from cotton plants or spun from the gossamer silk of worms; textiles are made with a variety of methods througho...
Woman's Valuables (Toluk), early to mid 20th CenturyPalau, MicronesiaTortoiseshell2019.17.32-.33Gift of Frieda O. Wray from the Estate of Dr. & Mrs. Douglas and Carolyn Osborne Have Tolúk and See Them The Bowers Museum recently acquired the Osborne Collection, an assemblage of objects originating from the island country of Palau—an archipelago ...
32154B.3 with some minor edits for spookinessBowers Museum Collections It’s that time of year once again, when the phantoms are on the haunt and ghosts and ghouls take to the streets—if only door to door in search of candy. Indeed, Dia de Muertos and Halloween are almost upon our sleepy suburban sprawl, so in keeping with the spirits of those holid...
Death of an Ignoble Enemy, 1946Arthur Edwaine Beaumont (English-born American, 1890-1978)Watercolor and tempera on paper; 24 1/2 x 28 1/2 in.98.58.1Gift of John E. Seabern Don’t Fear the Reaper, Ignore Him Some of us may have at one point in our lives found ourselves in a precarious situation such as a near-miss car accident that could just as easi...
A somewhat edited photograph of the Bowers home (32154B.3)Bowers Museum Collection Bowers Spook Factory It’s that time of year once again… again! Spooks and eeriness lurk at every maligned corner; costumed kids, hidden hooligans and scary skateboarders with tricks (never treats) roam as far as the eye can see; an unreasonable number of black cats s...
Mystery Box, late 19th to early 20th CenturyXiamen, Fujian Province, ChinaTin, ivory, felt and string 2019.16.1.1-.47Gift of Jan G. Wood Some Sleuthing Required Not everything has an easy answer. Previous Bowers Blog posts have explored a range of open-ended mysteries including Native American cogged stones, an apparent relic from the Portola Exped...
Our One Thousandth Blow (TASS Poster 1000), June 5, 1944Pavel Sokolov-Skalia (Russian, 1899-1961), Nikolai Federovich Denisovskii (Russian, 1901-1981), Vasilli Lebedev-Kumach (Russian, 1891-1949); Moscow, RussiaInk on Paper2019.14.6Bowers Museum Permanent Collection Comrade in Arms When we think of war our first thought is likely of the battlefield...
Motorcycle Officer, early 20th CenturyUnknown Photographer; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 10 x 8 in.37057.2Leo Tiede Photography Collection Police Story California at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries was very much a part of the frontier, with justice often poorly exacted by unqualified parties. In its earliest iter...
Feathered Currency Roll (Tevau), late 19th-mid 20th CenturySanta Cruz Islands, Temotu Province, Solomon Islands, MelanesiaFeather, bark, shell, fiber, resin and bead; 6 x 15 5/8 x 16 3/4 in.2001.74.14Gift of Mr. William Moran Red the Feather that Coils With the Bowers Museum’s recently opened Dimensions of Form: Tamayo and Mixografía, many visitors...
Detail of Seated Deity Figure, 300-600 ADZapotec culture; MexicoCeramic; 14 1/2 x 10 in.2000.56.7The Dr. Eli B. and Aimee Cohen Memorial Collection Universes of Meaning This week marks the opening of Dimensions of Form: Tamayo and Mixografía, an exhibition primarily about a series of three-dimensional prints made by Rufino Tamayo, one of the most i...
Detail of Heart of Mary, c. 1750Miguel Ballejo y Mandirano; MexicoOil on canvas; 30 x 22 in.89.22.2Donated by Mr. Gene R. Wood Feast of the Hurt Pain is an awful thing. It can come from a variety of sources, but it is perhaps most punishing when it attacks us through a loved one. The Christian faith is in part based around the suffering and self-sa...
Detail of Feathered Headdress, 20th CenturyKayapo Mebêngôkre culture; Xingu River area, Para, BrazilMacaw and waterfowl feather, string and cotton; 68 x 57 in.91.34.1.1-.2Bowers Museum Acquisitions Fund Purchase As the Crow Flies, Not So Far Bird feathers are surprisingly intricate structures: leaflike in nature with a rigid or semi-rigid midrib ca...
Details of Paddle Club (Mougalaulau), mid 19th CenturyTonga, PolynesiaWood; 45 ½ in.2019.19.1Bowers Museum Purchase; Photograph courtesy of Michael Hamson Endless Buffering The towering spires of Antoni Gaudí’s Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, the fragmented narrative of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Love of the Last Tycoon or Michelangelo’s unfinished ...
Gold Bracelet, c. 1970JordanianGold and elephant hair; 1 1/8 x 2 1/2 in.77.4.8Gift of United States Government The Gift that Keeps on Taking In the United States there is a price that can be put on changing someone’s mind. It exists in the form of an upper limit for the value of gifts that can be accepted from foreign dignitaries and, given that it...
Fire Dance Mask (Vungvung), 20th CenturyBaining culture; Gazelle Peninsula, New Britain, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaBark cloth, bamboo cane and paint; 65 x 53 x 148 1/2 in.2007.6.1Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih Sparks Like Stars in the Sky Held at torch-point against a pressing sea of night or built as a pyre to be enci...
Composite image of the moon and objects in this post. One Giant Leap On July 20, 1969 three humans boarded an aluminum and stainless-steel rocket, rose into the heavens and collectively became the first group to set foot on another celestial body. Taking his first apprehensive steps on the alien scape of the moon, Neil Armstrong famously said “that...
Headdress (Perak), late 20th CenturyLadakhi culture; Ladakh Region, Jammu and Kashmir State, IndiaCotton, lambskin, yak hair, turquoise, coral, carnelian and silver; 54 × 20 × 1 3/4 in.2019.7.1Anonymous Gift Crown of the Roof of the World Ladakh is a region of India located in the barren mountainous foothills between the Himalayas and the Karakoram...
Rug, c. 1910Navajo; probably Ganado, ArizonaDyed wool; 65 x 105 in.2019.5.1Gift of Dennis J. Aigner White Hat There is good cause for the romanticizing of the American West: it is a breathtaking part of this nation. Mesas rise from the red earth like monolithic and silent guardians; the skies are distilled blue, endless and not cloudy all day. More...
School Children on Float, July 4, 1890Unknown Photographer; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 8 x 5 in.2983Gift of Mr. William McPherson July the Fourth Be with You There is a lot to like about the Fourth of July. Family, friends and neighbors all come together for a day of celebrating this country’s birth with sumptuous barbeque, plentiful ...
Ocean Vista, c. 1925Conrad Buff (Swiss-born American, 1886-1975); Southern CaliforniaOil on Masonite; 36 x 24 in.91.47.4Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Christian and Joyce Title (Con)Rad, With Bodacious Later Works Rugged individualism remains an ingrained facet of American identity, but it is the combination of individualism and collaboration that create tru...
Marsupial Figure, 1500 BCE-1600 CELaiagam Valley, Central Enga Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaStone; 3 1/2 × 3 1/2 × 7 1/2 in.2019.8.1Bowers Museum Purchase Set in Stone When it comes to the art of Papua New Guinea, very few things are literally set in stone. Bags are made from fiber or coir, shields and clubs from wood, ornaments from feathe...
Fishing Hook, late 19th to early 20th CenturyIñupiaq culture; Seward Peninsula Area, AlaskaWalrus ivory, lead, iron and cotton thread; 2 1/4 × 4 1/8 in.39352Gift of Winifred P. Morgan Let’s See What’s Biting, Champ Some dads fit all the clichés. They are handy when something needs fixing, quick with a pun but otherwise tactful enough to let mom han...
Hook and Ladder Volunteer Firemen of Santa Ana, May 1, 1888Photo by B. F. Conaway; Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; 8.5 x 5 ¼ in. 2821Gift of John Luxembourger Sunny Santa Ana California William H. Spurgeon and his wife spent a few years in the early 1860s living in Los Angeles until she passed away. Heartbroken, he moved back to the East t...
Bone Daggers (Yina and Amia Ava), 20th CenturyAbelam and Iatmul culture; East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, OceaniaCassowary bone and pigment2010.22.5-.31Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih They do Move in Herds Unassuming dinosaurs of the modern era that they are, cassowaries are incredible creatures. For example, though flightless the...
Spear Heads (Tataumanaria), late 19th CenturyI-Kiribati culture; Gilbert Islands, Kiribati, MicronesiaPalm wood, shark teeth and sennit; various dimensions2019.6.1-.2Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih Into the Maw The Bowers Museum’s continued efforts to improve our Oceanic Collections has driven the acquisition of several shark tooth weapons from th...
Sculpture, late 20th CenturyPossibly Kwoma culture; Middle Sepik River Region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaWood, pigment and cowrie shell; 55 in.98.18.10Gift of the Jordan Community Trust Return of the Fourth Younglings, padawans and Jedi masters, it is time to force the important issues once more! In previous years the Bowers B...
Shoulder Cloth (Hinggi), late 20th CenturySumba culture; Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Lesser Sunda Islands, IndonesiaCotton; 96 × 112 in.2016.15.45Anonymous Gift Syncretic Dyeing Art has always been a chorus of different groups reacting to, influencing, inspiring and drawing upon one another’s creations. On the small East Indonesian i...
Pilgrimage Souvenir, 19th CenturyJerusalem, modern-day IsraelMother-of-pearl; 8 ½ x 8 ½ in.31521Gift of Mrs. John Carruthers Getting a Rise out of Spring Spring is a time of rebirth. Winter’s chill recedes, new flowers bloom and trees seemingly come back from the dead. Branches which for all the world appeared to be deceased are given Lazaran life,...
Battle and Hunting Weapons, 300-1519Michoacán, MexicoObsidian; various dimensions2003.10.42C-IAnonymous Gift The Night King Cometh As most fantasy buffs are well¬-aware, HBO’s Game of Thrones returns for the first of its final six episodes this upcoming Sunday. Not to spoil too much of the show for those who are interested in watching but have not ...
Detail of Untitled, c. 1924Thomas Hunt (Canadian-born American, 1882-1938)Oil on paper on board; 10 x 12 in.F7742Martha C. Stevens Memorial Art Collection Anti-Entropic Relay Legacy is without a doubt one of the constant thought worms throughout history, and we can all agree that it is not distributed in equal measure to the deceased. While it is p...
Detail of 94.64.10. Gift of Mr. William Drell. Love to Spring this On You As all living in southern California are acutely aware, this winter’s deluge has brought with it the happy occasion of a Californian super bloom. The hillsides and shallow valleys of California’s inland deserts—so often entirely devoid of flora—have sprung to life, ...
Guo Pei's Garden of Soul collection backed by Shashi Dhoj Tulachan's paintings. Fashion 101 Recent visitors to the Bowers Museum will have noticed a few new faces—placid as they may be—in the Freedman Galleria, the long hallway travelling between our main desk and the Bowers Museum’s changing gallery spaces. Of course, these seven new, poised ...
Armlet, c.1885Paris, FranceGold, emerald and stone; 5 1/2 x 4 3/8 x 4 1/8 in.2884Gift of Mr. & Mrs. James Willis Rice Balancing the Scales While St. Patrick’s Day has evolved over time to take on a character of its own, the original Saint Patrick was canonized as the patron saint of Ireland for—among many other feats—purging Ireland of its resident...
Knife (Tebutu), 19th CenturyI-Kiribati culture; Gilbert Islands, Kiribati, MicronesiaPalm wood, tiger shark teeth (galeocerdo cuvier) and sennit; 6 1/2 in.2019.3.1Bowers Museum Purchase War Changes Quite a Bit If humans have consistently been innovative in any one field, it is in the discovery of more effective ways to injure one another. Often hea...
Blanket, early 20th CenturyMaggie Kadanaha (Chilkat Tlingit, 1873-1959); Alaska, Northwest Coast, United States of AmericaMountain goat’s wool with cedar bark warp strands and pigment; 54 × 74 × 1 in.2016.14.1Gift of the Herbert W. Clark Trust Alaska For Directions At the turn of the 20th Century the Chilkat Tlingit lived along the painfully stark ...
Shell Currency (Wamayuwa), 19th CenturyYangoru Boiken culture; Prince Alexander Mountains, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaShell (tridacna gigas); 9 7/8 x 8 ¼ in.2018.13.63Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih All the Money in the World The Bowers Blog has spent a great deal of time exploring currency in its myriad shapes and sizes. From...
Headdress (Ciwarakun), 20th CenturyBamana culture; Western MaliWood and metal; 11 × 17 5/8 × 3 in.2018.13.28Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih On Demigods and Farmers Agrarian cultures often have myths about the origin of their farming practices. As the primary source of subsistence for these groups, farming is a lifeline that everything else grows f...
Saint Ann's Inn and Grounds, 1920sEdward W. Cochems (American, 1874-1949); Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print35558.7Gift of Mr. Eldon G. McNeil Valentine’s Day It’s that day we love to love! Measured in bouquets of flowers, squares of chocolate and cards swarming with weapon-toting winged babies, Valentine’s Day is truly a holiday cherubbed by...
Detail of Corona Del Mar, 1960Milford Zornes (American, 1908 - 2008); Corona Del Mar, CaliforniaWatercolor on paper; 14 7/8 × 21 1/2 in.2018.6.48Ann and Bill Cullen Memorial Collection
Mirror with Animal, Leaf, and Fruit Designs, Tang Dynasty (618-907)Han culture; ChinaBronze and silver; 1/2 x 6 1/8 in.2005.28.1In Memory of Armand J. Labbe The World in Bronze Mirrors today are multi-layered compositions of metal and glass, but historically the only requirement was a reflective surface. In China, a country whose complex manufactur...
War Shields, 20th CenturyCentral and Northern Asmat culture; Papua (Irian Jaya) Province, Indonesia, MelanesiaWood, pigment and sago-frond; Various Dimensions2017.10.148, L.2010.4.4, F75.16.1 and 2006.19.1Anonymous Gift, Bowers Museum General Acquisition Fund Purchase, Loan courtesy of Gayle and Edward P. Roski and Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Meyer Bello ...
Crazy Quilt, c.1900Sarah Ann Hinkley Tucker; Whitehall, WisconsinSilk and velvet; 60 x 75 in.80.35.1Gift of Mrs. Marjorie H. Carr Quilty as Charged One of the earliest, largest, and most-often exhibited collections of Americana at the Bowers is the museum’s collection of quilts, ranging in date from our nation’s independence to the end of the 20th ...
Detail of June Lake, mid to late 20th CenturyNoel Quinn (American, 1915 - 1993); June Lake, Mono County, CaliforniaWatercolor on paper; 19 1/4 × 26 7/8 in.2018.6.24Ann and Bill Cullen Memorial Collection Quintessential Artist This post harkens back to the Bowers Blog’s 6-part series on the artists of the Ann and Bill Cullen Memorial Collection, now...
Märklin SK800 Steam Locomotive, 1946Gebr. Märklin & Cie. GmbH; Göppingen, GermanyMetal; 7 in.80.78.21Gift of Mr. Richard D. Lusch All Aboard The winter holidays bring with them an array of traditions and customs, most of which date back hundreds and hundreds of years. The tradition featured in this post is a newer one, roughly 130 years of age, and...
Detail of Untitled (The Carmel Mission), 1949Arthur Edwaine Beaumont (English-born American, 1890-1978); Carmel, CaliforniaWatercolor and tempera on paper; 15 x 12 in.96.65.1Gift of Rae and Sandra Young Bombshell Artist The Bowers Blog has previously examined the works of the English-born American artist, Arthur Edwaine Beaumont, looking at his tim...
Splashboard (Lagim), 20th CenturyMassim culture; Trobriand Islands, Milne Bay Province, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, OceaniaWood and paint; 32 5/8 x 25 5/8 x 2 5/8 in.2011.11.2Collected on behalf of the Bowers Museum by the Roski-Keller-Martin Expeditions 2000-2008 Art of the Deal When it comes to making deals, everyone wants a leg up on the compet...
Detail of Tapa Cloth (Ngatu), 20th CenturyTongan culture; Tonga, PolynesiaPounded tree bark and pigment; 78 x 152 in.93.18.1Donated by Jeff and Laura Blackie Cloth With a Bark Tapa cloth, a barkcloth made from the inner bark of trees, is one of the most distinctive products made by the cultures of the Pacific Islands and remains at the heart of Pac...
Bridge and Tugboats, mid 20th CenturyDong Kingman (American, 1911 - 2000); New York City, New YorkWatercolor on paper; 19 1/2 x 29 1/2 in.2018.6.11Ann and Bill Cullen Memorial Collection Delightful, Diligent As this series winds to a close, we end by looking at an artist who—perhaps out of all of the artists in the collection had the closest friend...
Girl by Candlelight, 1942-1962Muggs Van Sant (American, 1898 - 1964)Watercolor on paper; 3 x 4 in.2018.6.34Gift of Ann Cullen Covered by Sheets The last post in this series on the Ann Cullen Collection left off with Millard Sheets still as a relatively young man working still to create a unique style and find the subjects that would appeal to him m...
Family Flats, 1932Millard Sheets (American, 1907 - 1989); CaliforniaLithograph; 16 x 22 1/2 in.2018.6.26Gift of Ann Cullen Three Sheets to the Blog So far in this series we have examined the close ties between the various painters of the Ann Cullen Collection. In this post we look at the noble heart at the center of the group, the ever-charismatic ...
Waves Spilling Over Rocks, 1976Phil Dike (American, 1906 - 1990); CaliforniaWatercolor on paper; 18 x 24 in.2018.6.6Gift of Ann Cullen Something Else Entirely In the Bowers Museum’s recently acquired paintings by Phil Dike (American, 1906-1990), we see birds suspended in motion over breaking waves. Dike was drawn to the ocean just as he was drawn t...
Bunker Hill, mid 20th CenturyEmil Kosa Jr. (French-born American, 1903-1968); Los Angeles, CaliforniaWatercolor on paper; 22 x 28 in.2018.6.17Gift of Ann Cullen First Kosa’s First Full… absolutely full to the brim with life and a love for painting. Is there any other way to describe Emil Kosa Jr.? In the second post of this series on the Ann Cullen...
Autumn Day, 1976Rex Brandt (American, 1914-2000); Temecula, CaliforniaWatercolor on paper; 18 x 24 in.2018.6.2Ann Cullen Collection An Open Book The Bowers Museum’s California Bounty: Image and Identity 1850-1930 has been quietly boasting the triumphs of Californian artists since its opening in 2016. Housed in the halls of the museum’s Historic Win...
Ceremonial Vessel (Kwam), 19th to 20th CenturyAbelam culture; Wambisa Village, Maprik District, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaClay, red, white and orange ochre; 3 ¼ x 9 3/8 x 7 3/8 in.2018.7.16Gift of Michael Hamson Vessel Variety Perhaps above all else, Papua New Guinea is best-known for its variety. As many as 850 languages are ...
Sitting Dog, 200 BC-300 ADColima culture; Colima, MexicoClay and slip; 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 in.99.82.8Gift of John Ross, D.D.S. All Bite, No Bark Dogs have remained versatile, benevolent additions to human society for as long as they have been domesticated. The same is very much true for the Xoloitzcuintli or Mexican Hairless, with the tragic coro...
El Greco, The Savior (from the Apostles series), Toledo, Spain, ca. 1608–1614. Oil on canvas, 39 17⁄32 x 31 37⁄64 in. Museo del Greco, Toledo, IPCEGRE-GS1(CE00001). Photo: Tomas Antelo, Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural de España, Madrid. El Greco is one of Spain’s most famous painters. In his lifetime he challenged Spanish painting norms, created ...
Detail of Untitled (Renaissance Man in Garden), c. 1901Alberta Binford McCloskey (American, 1855-1911)Oil on canvas; 13 1/2 × 9 1/4 in.74.22.27Gift of Mrs. Eleanor Russell Galahad to Have You Romanticized histories have always captured the hearts of those looking to the past. Of all the periods nostalgically viewed through rose-colored lenses, perh...
Pagoda, Old Chinatown, Los Angeles, 1949Arthur Edwaine Beaumont (English-born American, 1890-1978); Los Angeles, CaliforniaWatercolor on paper; 14 x 21 x ½ in.86.40.1Gift of Mr. Paul J. Knaak A Perfect Beau… As one among many artists who painted the California Style watercolors that developed during the early and mid 20th Century, the English-born ...
Detail of Untitled (Portrait of Eleanor with Wreath), c. 1892Alberta Binford McCloskey (American, 1855-1911) or William Joseph McCloskey (American, 1859-1941)Watercolor; 15 7/8 x 14 1/874.22.9Gift of Mrs. Eleanor Russell Once Upon a Time Any visitor to the Bowers Museum will recognize the works of Alberta Binford and William Joseph McCloskey by the...
Detail of Coastline, early 20th CenturyNellie Gail Moulton (American, 1878-1972)Oil on masonite; 12 × 14 × 3/4 in.F7736Martha C. Stevens Memorial Art Collection Stevens Start-off One of the lesser-known facts about the Bowers Museum’s remarkable Fine Art Collection is that we have only paid for one painting. The rest of the Bowers’ 1543 currently a...
Incised Shell Trumpet, 900-1200 Michoacán culture; Puruándiro, Michoacán, MexicoShell; 12 1/2 x 6 3/4 x 5 1/8 in.34076Gift of Mr. Graciano Bernal Tooting Their Own Horns Shells take the sea with them wherever they go. Maybe this is the reason why so many cultures utilized and still utilize shell as a medium for both artistic and utilitarian purpose...
Detail of Summer Night, c. 1925Aloys Bohnen (American, 1889-1967) Oil on canvas; 34 x 27 in.31163Gift of the James Earl Fraser Estate Into the Grove During the day Californian summers can become oppressively hot—to the point of us wondering if the day’s warmest hours wouldn’t be better passed in siesta. The few respites from this heat can be found ...
The Red Bathing Suit, 1948Arthur Edwaine Beaumont (American, 1890-1978)Watercolor on paper;97.144Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Dreibelbis Arthur Edwin Crabbe was born on March 25, 1890 in Thorpe-St. Andrew, England. His father was a medical attendant in the British Military, and his mother was a nurse who encouraged her five children to draw and pain...
Scrimshaw of George Washington, early 19th CenturyUnknown artist (American); North AmericaSperm whale ivory and ink; 5 1/4 x 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 in.2011.25.56Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Burton W. Fink New England, Old American Carvings Independence Day is the annual celebration of all things American. For most, revelries might include fireworks, barbeque, throw...
Necklace (Lei Niho Palaoa), early 19th CenturyHawaiian culture; Hawaii, United States, PolynesiaHair, fiber and walrus ivory; 11 1/4 x 7 7/8 x 2 1/2 in.2018.5.1Bowers Museum PurchasePhotograph courtesy of Bonhams A New Acquisition When it comes to Hawaiian necklaces, the subject can be a somewhat hairy one, though perhaps not for the reasons one mi...
Two Meiji-era Japanese exposition objects (2017.6.1a-h and 36756) on view in the Dr. Wan-Lin & Assumpta Kiang Family Foundation Rotunda.Globalization in the 19th and early 20th Centuries in many cases led to the butting of heads on a national scale, but the conflict served as a fantastic motivator for both art and tra...
Pie Crimper, c. 1890Unknown artist (American); North AmericaSperm whale ivory and wood; 4 5/8 x 3 1/2 x 6 in. 2011.25.15Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Burton W. FinkPies are made all over the world in sizes ranging from large table pies to small palm-sized pies, and for every size twice as many flavors exist. With all the variations, bakers need a way of dif...
Wrap-Around Garment (Kente), early to mid 20th CenturyAkan or Ewe culture; GhanaCotton and silk; 66 1/2 × 105 in.2016.15.30Anonymous Gift Like words composing complex thoughts, the colors and patterns of Ghana’s kente cloth work together to symbolize intricate ideas. The vibrantly-colored fabric not only tells of Ghana’s history; these textiles hav...
Corbels with Phoenix and Crane, 19th CenturyQing Dynasty; ChinaWood and pigments; 27 x 14 x 5 in.2001.58.13a,bGift of Kevin BranchDiagram dougong holding up a multi-inclined roof, from the architectural treatise Yingzao Fashi, 1103.To one degree or another, all objects run the gamut between form and function. In architectural terms this polari...
Weapons for Liberty, 1917Joseph Leyendecker (German-born American, 1874-1951)Paper; 35 x 25 ½ in. 96.41.5Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Weston F. Sprague Most everyone wants to be involved in something greater than themselves, and for many boys and young men in the United States it has historically been the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). On August 1, 1907, Rob...
Lorgnettes, 18th to early 20thCenturiesProbably France and United StatesMetal, tortoiseshell, lacquer, paint and glass2000.8.37, .39, .123Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Richard Preston “…the inevitable lorgnette, the enemy of other people’s privacy.”–Daphne du Maurier, Rebecca 2000.8.37 in all three stages of unfolding. Lorgnettes, spectacles held in p...
Two Prints from The Fifteen Views of Kyoto, 1950-1960Tomikichiro Tokuriki (Japanese, 1902–1999)Woodblock print on paper; 15 x 13 in.81.8.1J, KGift of Mr. Kerwin JacobsBeauty Reading a Letter, late 18th CenturyUtamaro (Japanese 1753-1806)Woodblock print on paper; 19 x 13 in.36124.1Evylena Nunn Miller Memorial CollectionUkiyo-e, the term for a s...
Glass Earrings (Dimbo), 19th CenturyWaropen culture; Cenderawasih (Geelvink) Bay, Papua Province, Indonesia, MelanesiaGlass2017.8.1-.5Bowers Museum PurchaseThough we may think of it now as an isolated, inaccessible part of the world, New Guinea has always been rich in organic and mineral resources; the peoples of its coasts welcome partners to comm...
Dance Clubs (Kiakavo), 19th CenturyFiji, PolynesiaWood, fiber and pigment97.138.13, .17, and 2015.17.10Anonymous Gift and The George Stanley Lodin CollectionTwo late 19th Century Fijian men hold clubs across their laps for a staged photograph. Bowers Museum CollectionGift of Mr. E. Morgan StanleyFijian Club SceneUp until and in the few d...
Folding Pocket Camera No. 3A, 1903-1914Eastman Kodak Co.; Rochester, New YorkMetal, glass, wood, and leather; 9 ½ x 4 ¾ x 1 ¾40633Gift of Mr. Gurdon WattlesExpedition Prep. The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-1917) stands to date as one of the greatest survival tales of all time. Best told in Endurance: The Antarctic Legacy of Sir Er...
Scrimshaw Snuff Box, c. 1870United StatesSperm whale ivory, silver and ink2011.25.18Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Burton W. FinkSnuff Bottle, date unknownKenyaWood, metal and horn2013.7.9Gift of Doris L. BuckSnuff Bottle, late 20th CenturyJapanAntler97.11.2Gift of Dr. Murray and Brett ViaAround the WorldAt the height of its popularity, snuff was used throug...
Whetting the Scythe from The Peasants' Revolt, 1905Käthe Kollwitz (German, 1867–1945)Etching on paper; 21 1/2 x 18 in.33542 Gift of Mr. Howard GrahamKäthe Käthe Kollwitz, 1919Fascination with the moribund can come from any number of circumstances. For Käthe Kollwitz (German, 1867-1942) it stemmed from a lifetime of tragedy, enshroudi...
Izok, 2010Harold Van Pelt (American, 1925-)Quartz and izoklakeiteL.2016.21.34a,bLoan courtesy of Harold and Erica Van Pelt© 2010 Harold and Erica Van PeltVan PeltOne need not be an explorer-archaeologist to come across incredible artifacts. For experts like Harold Van Pelt they can be made in the workshop. Van Pelt has spent the last 45 years maste...
Jar, 1931Nampeyo of Hano (1857-1942); Hano Pueblo, Hopi Reservation, ArizonaClay and paint; 7 x 8 x 4 1/2 in.36809.3Gift of Dr. & Mrs. Earl SandersWhat the Railway BroughtThe late 19th Century’s introduction of the rail to the Southwest was a gift and a curse for Southwestern United States’ Pueblo Territories. The immediate influx of cheap East Coa...
Feast Bowl, 20th CenturyCape Gloucester, West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaWood and pigment; 9 × 44 1/2 × 25 1/4 in.2014.15.14Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Danny and Anne ShihBird is the WordThanksgiving is now upon us. Even in its earliest rendition, it was a celebration of thanks through the sharing of food with friends, family, and ne...
Consul the Educated Monkey, 1916-1918William Henry Robertson (Educational Novelty Company)Tin; 5 ½ by 6 in.30780aGift of Mrs. Anita L. AlexanderFor a Fistful of DollarsOriginal 1915 patent for Consul the Educated Monkey.Festive and wonderful as they all are, the holidays can be a time of much consternation when it comes to gift-giving. Especially c...
Variant on J.B. Moore’s Plate XXX Rug, c. 1920Navajo; Crystal, San Juan County, New MexicoWool and pigment; 69 1/2 × 54 in.2016.12.4Gift of Dennis Aigner Variant on J.B. Moore’s Plate XXX Rug, 1910-1920 Navajo; Crystal, San Juan County, New Mexico &nbs...
S-Shaped Counterweight, 20th CenturyMiao or Dong culture; Guizhou, Hunan or Guangxi Province, ChinaSilver; 6 1/4 × 10 7/8 in.2015.26.59Anonymous Gift Glance at the Moon Alternate image of 2015.26.59.Silver was used as a currency in China as early as the turn of the common era. It is unclear when exactly the Dong and Miao of southern China bega...
Empress Dowager Cixi's 1901 Duryea SurreyDuryea Motor Wagon Co.; Reading, PAJanuary 1902 advertisement for the Duryea Surrey.Climb InEmpress Dowager Cixi is arguably the most influential figure in late dynastic China. Coming from humble beginnings as a low-ranking concubine for the Emperor, she managed to leverage a legitimate heir to the throne in...
Evening on the River, 1883George Inness (American, 1825-1894)Oil on canvas; 33 3/4 x 48 x 3 in.F7664Martha C. Stevens Memorial Art CollectionSunset: 2017 EndsTwilight, c. 1860George Inness (American, 1825-1894)Every day comes to day’s end. In this twilight painted rivers, seas and skies—aching with shades of red, violet, and orange—all contest the ...
Yaqona Bowl (Tanoa), late 19th to early 20th CenturyFiji, PolynesiaWood; 7 1/2 x 22 7/16 x 21 in. 99.43.7Donated by Rear Admiral Ralph and Sara GarrisonKava ChameleonWithin the last few decades, kava has found its way into the American social scene as a niche alternative to alcohol in being both a mild relaxant and an avenue to potential liver dama...
Vessel with Snake Motifs, 18th CenturyPaiwan culture; Pingtung or Taitung County, TaiwanClay and wood; 15 x 11 1/2 in.2017.11.28-.29Gift of Anne and Long Shung ShihOne Hundred PacesThe hundred-pacer snake is a venomous pit viper indigenous to the same region occupied by the Paiwan of southern Taiwan. Hailed as an ancestor in several of their creati...
Don Pio Pico, 1868Henry J. Frey (American, b?-d?)Oil on canvas; 24 x 20 in.3513Gift of Mrs. John ForsterRepairing a Rogue’s Ranchero RepresentationAbout a year and a half ago the Bowers Museum Collections Blog published a post on our resident painting of Pio Pico. For years the painting had been exhibited by a perfunctory “Unknown Artist” label, bu...
Headrest, 20th CenturyKaramojong culture; UgandaWood; 7 5/8 x 6 ¼ x 5 7/82017.11.31Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih Sleep Like a Log Sleep is one of those fundamental human needs all peoples of the world unconsciously share in, but the trappings of sleep outside of beds, pillows, sheets, blankets, and duvets are rarely covered. Up until recen...
Sailor's Valentine, late 19th CenturyProbably New Curiosity Shop (1879-1925); Bridgetown, BarbadosShell, wood and adhesive; 13 3/4 x 13 3/4 x 1 5/8 in. 2011.25.80Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Burton W. FinkFrom a Whaler’s HeartDespite whaling now being a somewhat romanticized New England tradition, romance was hard to keep alive during multi-year hunting ex...
Feast Bowl, late 19th CenturyMatankol culture; Lou Island, Admiralty Islands, Manus Province, Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaWood and parinarium nut paste; 24 ½ x 54 ½ x 41 in. 2018.1.1Bowers Museum PurchaseHomes on the neighboring M'Buke Island.Photograph by Peter Keller, 2006.King of BowlsOf the many types of wooden bowl from th...
Gold Ear Ornaments (Kwottenai), 20th CenturyFulani culture; MaliGold and yarn; 9 x 8 1/2 in.97.13.1.1-.2Gift of Bowers Museum Collector's CouncilWakanda ForeverMarvel Studios’ newly released Black Panther (2018)—a film about T’Challa, the superhero monarch of the fictional African nation of Wakanda—features an incredible fusion of traditional Afric...
Jar, c. 1981Lucy Lewis (1898-1992); Acoma Pueblo, New MexicoClay and paint; 5 x 10 1/4 in.F81.61.1Gift of the ArtistPotter of the CenturyPhotograph of Lucy Lewis painting a vessel.With the influx of western products that the pueblos of the American Southwest saw during the 19th Century, many traditional Native American art forms such as pottery onl...
Shamrock Brand Citrus Crate Label, 1930-1939Western Lithograph Company (American, 1908-1985); Los Angeles, CaliforniaChromolithograph; 10 x 10 ¾ in.82.59.2Gift of Mr. Andrew E. CoenSt. Patrick’s DayStereotypical symbols like leprechauns and their pots of gold may seem hackneyed, but the shamrock—characteristically a species of three-leaf clover—sta...
Scene from Tale of Genji Chapter 23, “Hatsune (First Warbler)”, 1890Yōshū Chikanobu (Japanese, 1838-1912); Tokyo, JapanWoodblock print on paper; 21 1/2 x 33 in.94.64.8Gift of Mr. William DrellTale of the EquinoxSpring is in the air! The spring equinox, which occurred Tuesday, March 20th, provides the possibility for rebirth, renewal, and regrowth. ...
Floyd E. Stewart Performing Magic, c. 1936Edward W. Cochems (American, 1874-1949); Santa Ana, CaliforniaPhotographic print; Various Dimensions36247.3,.4Gift of Mrs. Weston Walker April Fools bring May LOL’sIt takes a rare skill to fool others, especially in a way which delights and entertains rather than leaves one somehow feeling cheated. The pref...
Parasols, 19th and 20th CenturiesPossibly Paul Poiret (French, 1879-1944) and Unknown Makers; France and EnglandWood, metal, silk, cotton and pigments; Various dimensions32172C, 7992D and 7992AGift of Mrs. G. W. Pike (32172C) and Irene P. Cutter Memorial Doll Collection (7992D and 7992A) Parasols for Paris Souls The science of selecting t...
Plaque with "Labyrinth" Design, 20th CenturyPima culture; Southern ArizonaWillow, devil's claw and tule; 15 1/2 in.30070Gift of Mrs. Mary J. Newland Theseus, He Pleases Us Labyrinths play important roles in many cultures’ stories, persisting into modern pop culture with novels, film, and television. In HBO’s hit series Westworld, it is a maze ...
Untitled (Tom Morris, Sprinter)B.F. Conaway Studios; Santa Ana, CaliforniaAlbumen Print Cabinet Card; 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 in. 5788 Photograph of Tom Morris, a world famous sprinter during the 1890's. During the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 Morris exceeded all previous sprinting records. He lived for many years in Santa Ana disappearing suddenly and remai...
Manillas, 19th CenturyUnknown Manufacturer; probably Birmingham, EnglandLeaded brass; Various Dimensions2003.43.72-.79Anonymous Gift Who wants to be a Manillionaire? Some might like to make a grand show of wealth, but along the cost of West Africa, one could literally wear their net worth on their sleeve up until the mid 20th Century. At least unti...
Pipe, 1000-1700Chumash culture; CaliforniaSteatite and clam shell beads; 1 9/16 x 1 x 12 3/16 in.80017Fred Randolph Aldrich Collection This is a Pipe Does the apotheotic father smoke a pipe? Perhaps he has not since at least the 1950s. Still though, a dad casually puffing on a pipe—maybe on a Sunday morning while reading the paper, fooling around w...
Shark Caller's Tools, 20th centuryKontu culture, Island of New Ireland, Papua New GuineaWood, reed, bamboo, coconut and paint 2002.65.1.1-.3Bowers Museum Purchase courtesy of the Trude Jordan Fund The Kontu people of the Island of New Ireland, Papua New Guinea use ritual customs to capture and kill sharks. Shark Callers believe that ancestral ...
Wedding Furisode Kimono (Furisode), c. 1900JapaneseSilk and threadF78.62.1Bowers Museum Purchase A woman’s first furisode (a long-sleeved kimono, literally “swinging sleeve”) is given to her at the age of 20 when she is recognized as an adult, allowed to vote, responsible for committing crimes and is officially allowed to smoke and drink. A furisod...
Ancestor Figure, 20th CenturySukuma culture; TanzaniaWood, metal and hair; 63 in.2002.58.1Gift of Heather Sacre May the Fourth… In an annual celebration of culture, science fiction, and a beloved galaxy not too near to here, the Bowers Blog once again uses May the Fourth to take the hyperspace plunge. Last year we featured a miniature made from a h...
Busts of David Hewes and Franklina Gray, 1877Giuseppe Andreoni (Italian, 19th Century); Pisa, ItalyMarble; Various Dimensions2697, 32782Gifts of Mrs. D. Eyman Huff and Mr. & Mrs. James A. Moore Total Bust With American Visionary: John F. Kennedy’s Life and Times having just left the Bowers Museum this past weekend, the portraits section of the much...
Basketry Olla, early 20th CenturyPima culture; Arizona, United StatesBear grass, willow and devil’s claw; 11 3/4 × 9 1/4 in.2018.3.3Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John and Elizabeth Stahr That’s Moms Moms are a fairly universal force of good in the world, seeking more often than not to safeguard their children’s wellbeing and ensure their happiness. Top scho...
Guanyin Seated on a Lotus Flower, late Ming Dynasty (1600-1643)Han culture; ChinaWood and pigments; 49 x 16 x 11 in.2005.37.1Gift of Anne and Long Shung Shih Mercy Me Whether or not you recognize the name, if you have been to the Bowers you have seen at least one representation of Guanyin, the adopted Chinese bodhisattva and goddess of mercy. Woode...
Bowl, 1000-1300 A.D.Mimbres Culture, New MexicoBlack on white ceramic; 9" diameterF81.64.1Gift of Dr. and Mrs. James LodgeOpen globular shaped bowls like the one seen here are the most common object associated with the Mimbres people. The culture was active between A.D. 1000 and A.D. 1300 and consisted of about 17 known Mimbres villages centered in...
Most are aware of the devastation brought to San Francisco after the April 1906 earthquake and subsequent fire. This picture clearly shows that the San Francisco Chinatown (as the rest of the city) was obliterated. But few know that here in Santa Ana, only one month later and 100 years ago this week, our own Chinatown was purposefully burned to the...
Letter from a Merchant Ship, July 31,1806Theodore Young; American or English bornPaper and pigmentGift of Rebecca Oglesby38678On July 31st, 1806 this letter was written by Theodore Young who had just reached New York after completing an oversea voyage from the city of Portsmouth, Dominica. Dominica (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic) i...
Bowl, c. 300 B.C.-250 A.D.Chupicuaro culture; Guanajuato, MexicoCeramic and natural pigment; 8 1/4 x 10 1/4 x 32 1/2 in.F81.18.2Bowers Museum Foundation Acquisition Fund PurchaseUnusual for its size (26cm diameter and 21cm in height) this Chupícuaro bowl is one of the Bowers Museum’s most elegant and treasured in our collection of Pre-Columbian obj...
Mask, 20th CenturyPende people; Democratic Republic of the CongoWood and cloth; 15 x 7 1/2 x 4 in.F79.27.24Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Daniel SolomonThis is a 20th century mask made by the Pende people of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa. Masks are the dominant form of Pende sculptural work and are used in masquerades where artists, musicians and ...
Vessel, c. 300-950 A.D.Maya people; El Peten, GuatemalaCeramic and paint; 10 7/8 x 12 1/2 in. 85.26.1Gift of Peter G. Wray This delicate piece of pottery is an example of a Pre-Colombian Mayan vessel. The vessel dates from the Classic Period (c. 300 – 900 AD) and was unearthed in the El Peten region of Guatemala. This particular vessel is rare in b...
Seated Deity Figure, c. 300-600 A.D.Zapotec culture; MexicoCeramic; 14 1/2 x 10 in.2000.56.7The Dr. Eli B. and Aimee Cohen Memorial CollectionGracing billboards and posters around the city of Beijing is the image of one of the Bowers Museum’s Zapotec ceramic urns. Included in the Beijing World Art Museum’s current exhibition "The Great Civilization...
Ceremonial Adze with Blade Emanating from Mouth, 20th CenturyLuba Culture; Democratic Republic of the CongoWood and Iron; 6 3/4 x 2 5/8 x 9 5/8 in.Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Daniel SolomonF79.27.14This adze made by an unknown Luba artist is a fine example of artistic mastery of wood and iron. Even the discoloration that has occurred through use lends to ...
Vessel, 14th centurySawankhalok culture; ThailandCeramic; 2 3/4 x 9 5/8 in90.5.73The Bowers Museum is lucky to hold in its collection a number of fine examples of Thai pottery. The following are two of our finest examples from the 14th century. These objects are in astoundingly good condition and originate from the Sawankhalok region of Thailand ju...
Wedding Dress, 1902Santa Ana; AmericanLace, muslin, applique32216aThe Bowers Museum has a rarely seen, but wonderful textile collection. Among this collection are costumes and accessories from Santa Ana’s early families. Pictured here is the wedding dress of Laura Potter Warner. She was the adopted daughter of George and Margaret Warner, owner of “...
Serape Style Blanket, c. 1870Navajo people; New Mexico and ArizonaWool and dye; 60 x 62 in.5504These blankets are bursting with color and expressionistic designs. Contrasting colors and multi-directional patterns create intense movement and vibration for the eye's amusement. In large part it is the repeating diamond motif that allows for such optic...
Hydrangeas, c. 1886Alberta Binford McCloskey (American, 1855-1911)Oil on canvas; 47 1/4 X 39 1/4 X 2 5/8 in. 74.22.19Gift of Mrs. Eleanor RussellBorn c. 1855 in Missouri, Alberta Binford early on demonstrated her natural talent in music and the visual arts. In the early 1880’s she moved to Denver, Colorado where she worked as an artist – a difficul...
Ikenga, 20th CenturyIbgo people; NigeriaWood, paint, organic material; 12 x 9.5 in. Gift of John Ross, D.D.S.91.52.1“The practical purpose of art is to channel a spiritual force into an aesthetically satisfying physical form that captures the presumed attributes of that force.” – Chinua AchebeFor the Igbo people achieving success in work, family an...
Bye-Lo Baby Doll, c.1924Created by Grace Storey Putnman; Los Angeles, CaliforniaFabric, wax, cloth and cotton; 18 x 12 x 6 in.35310Gift of Mr. George PutnamThe Bowers Museum holds in its collection nearly 1700 dolls from around the world. One of the rarest and often inquired about from collectors and researchers is the original Bye-Lo Baby with wax...
Lime Container (Poporo), c. 1000-1500 A.D.Quimbaya people; ColombiaGold; 2 1/2 x 1 in.2006.1.1.1-.2Gift of Greg and Mechas Grinnell in memory of Armand LabbePoporo is the specific name for containers such as the one pictured here that are used to hold lime, a white calcium based powder. When chewing coca leaves, lime is added to activate the plant’...
Head Taker’s Cane Hat, 20th centuryNaga people; Myanmar (Burma)Cane, monkey skull, hornbill beak, boar tusk, boar tail, goat hair and metal; 11 1/2 x 7 x 9 1/4 in.94.52.1Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Donald and Naomi JueThese types of hats and baskets were worn by Naga warriors who participated in the act of head taking. Seen as essential for the rejuvenati...
Vessel, c. 1000-800 B.C.Tlatilco, MexicoKaolin ceramic; 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 in.F74.4.1Rockwell International Electronic Group Fund PurchaseThis elegant globular bottle was found in the late 1940’s at the Pre-Columbian site of Tlatilco that lies just west of present day Mexico City. The perfectly formed whiteware container is interrupted by a flash of con...
Quiver, 19th centuryKlamath people; Southern Oregon or Northeastern CaliforniaDry tule; 17 x 6 x 1 3/4 in.19629Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harrie H. TeaboldtThis woven quiver that was used to carry arrows is one of approximately six complete examples known to exist. It is a fine example of basket stitching but, the rarity of this object makes it one of th...
Gold Ear Ornaments (Kwottenai), 20th CenturyFulani people; MaliGold and yarn; 9 x 8 1/2 in.97.13.1.1-.2Gift of Bowers Museum Collector's CouncilCurrently on exhibit in the Bowers's Anthony W. and Sharon D. Thompson FoyerThe Fulani emphasize their physical beauty and elaborate adornments are used to draw attention to their appearance which the...
Yam Mask (baba), 20th centuryAbelam people; Maprik area, Prince Alexander Mountains, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaLygodium vine fiber and cassowary feather; 23 3/8 x 18 x 13 1/4 in.99.76.13299.2.8In the Sepik River Region of Papua New Guinea yams play a prominent role in the agricultural and ceremonial practices of the Abelam peo...
Embroidered wall hanging (pictured without border)Silk, denim, gold, thread and paperJapan, 19th century83” x 59”36756The auspicious dragon, associated with wealth and good fortune, is the subject of this mythology based Japanese textile. The Japanese three-toed dragon lives in a watery realm, but it also has the ability to fly among the clouds. Dr...
It is only days now until the Bowers opens the Dorothy and Donald Kennedy Wing a 30,000 square foot expansion that includes two large galleries, a 300 seat theatre and a beautiful garden. In the Anderson-Hsu-Tu Gallery Ansel Adams: Classic Images features 75 sumptuous black and white photographs by the renowned artist on loan from The Capital Group...
Kimono, 19th CenturyJapanLining, gold and silk; 72 x 49 1/4 in.34981Gift of Mr. Bruce I. HesseThis lightweight silk kimono is incredibly vibrant making it hard to believe that it dates from the first half of the 19th century. The heavy gold thread that constitutes and accentuates many design elements throughout the kimono retains every bit of brill...
A number of objects from various cultures of the Xingu River Basin, located deep in the forest of Brazil, are held in the Bowers Museum. Collected in the 1950’s the objects were donated with thorough photographic and written documentation that provides views and descriptions of many of the objects in context. One of the most fascinating of these im...
BMCA#91.28.1.1,.4,.5,.6Headdress, belt and bracelets, 20th centuryPhami Akha People, Golden Triangle Area, N. ThailandSilver, fabric and beadThis Akha woman’s headdress and jewelry are heirlooms that took many years to assemble since all of the silver had to be accumulated before the ensemble could be completed. The Indian coins are silver, and mos...
Textile Fragment, 5th-6th centuryCoptic Period (3rd-12th centuries), EgyptLinen and wool10 in. x 8 in.79.55.18This brown, red and beige textile fragment was made during Egypt’s Coptic period, a time when Christianity was the dominant religion. Throughout the period a multitude of cultural and religious influences shaped and influenced artistic prod...
Book, Colosso Eloquente, 1748Paper, limp vellum, remnants of ties8 in. x 6 in.7252One of the oldest books in the Bowers Museum’s collection is the Colosso Eloquente, printed in 1748 by Maria de Ribera who ran the Mexico City (then Nueva España) press, Imprenta Real de Superior Gobierno. The book, intended to be educational in nature, describes the ...
Palm Wine Drinking Cup, 20th Century Lele people; Democratic Republic of the CongoWood; 5 3/4 x 3 1/2 x 4 1/4 in. F80.49.1Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jon HermanPerhaps more than any of the arts in Africa, Kuba art* is concerned with the ornamentation of daily use objects. This tradition was fueled by 18th century officials of...
Portrait of David Hewes, 1854William S. Jewett, AmericanOil on canvas; 35.5 in. 28.5 in.5541Two distinguished individuals are associated with this painting made in San Francisco, 1854. Both men came to California during the mid 1800’s Gold Rush era not following gold, but opportunity and business. Both gentlemen succeeded in making their fortunes a...
Warrior FiguresChina, Tang Dynasty (618-907)Ceramic, paint2001.58.4-.1-.2To be included in the Bowers Museum’s upcoming September exhibition of objects from the permanent collection is this pair of warrior figures serving as guardians. Tomb guardians are commonly found in Chinese tombs, the most notorious being the life size terracotta warriors of ...
Necklace (Wäsekaseka), 18th-19th CenturyFiji, PolynesiaSperm whale tooth and fiber; 13 x 12 3/4 x 1 5/8 in.2004.37.1Don and Barbara Greek Fund Purchase1This necklace is made of twenty Sperm Whale teeth each carved into a sharply pointed tusk-like form. The teeth are strung on a fiber rope and the necklace would be worn so that the points face upwar...
BMCA#23Bowl, n.d.Southern California Native, possibly Gabrieliño, Luiseño or Chumash Sandstone; 10 H x 20 in. Dia.This massive bowl, or mortar, was one of the first objects donated to the Bowers Museum. Masterfully carved with a flat rim, smooth finish and exact proportions, the stone bowl is truly a work of art especially when considering the bowl...
John Norton, Keep These Off the USA, 1918Paper poster40.5 in. x 30.5 in96.41.16This 1918 poster designed by John Norton depicts a pair of blood stained German boots. Dramatic imagery and threatening typeface evokes the terrible consequences of Germans reaching American soil. This poster is one of many that paralleled one of the Treasury Department'...
Painting of Pope Leo XII, c. 1823Artist unknown; Probably of Latin American originOil on panel; 26 x 19.25 in.90.16.1Beginning July 19th visitors to the Riverside Metropolitan Museum will have the chance to view this 19th century painting and others on loan from the Bowers Museum in the exhibition “The Mission Inn: Celebrating 30 Years as a Nationa...
Hunter's backpack, inabnūtanIfugao, Luzon Island, PhilippinesPlaited constructionRattan and palm fiber2001.35.6“Igorot” is the generic name of the several groups of people living in the inner part of the northern Philippine island of Luzon. These people, among other things, share linguistic and artistic commonalities and, a shared history in resist...
Baby carriers, 20th centuryEthnic Minority Groups (un-attributed), ChinaVarious fabrics including cotton, silk and natural fibersGifts of Mr. & Mrs. Long Shung and Anne ShihBowers Museum#2006.11.20; 2006.11.9 Twenty-one textiles representing various styles among the Minority Groups of China have recently been gifted to the museum, contributing ...
Erong (coffin)Toraja People; SulawesiWood and pigment; 46.5 x 37 x 104 in.2004.42.1This beautifully incised coffin is carved to represent a buffalo, a symbol of protection, status and wealth in Toraja culture. Additionally, the coffin lid mimics the saddle shape of a Toraja house roof. Toraja homes, besides being symbols of status and wealth, are b...
Mantle, c. 1200-1500 A.D.Chimu culture; North Coast PeruAlpaca wool and cotton; 38 x 41 1/2 in.91.26.479Gift of Roy and Bentley DillardVibrant in color and outstanding in quality this man’s woven mantle is one of the Bowers Museum’s most exceptional Peruvian textiles. A mantle is a cape or cloak worn around and over the shoulders and this example i...
Potlatch Bowl, c. 1985Don Lelooska Smith (1933-1996); Cherokee/Kwakiutl CultureWood, shell and mother-of-peral; 9 x 12 x 23 1/2 in.86.51.1Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. AberleThis potlatch bowl was made by Don “Lelooska” Smith (1933-1996) a Native American carver of Cherokee and European ancestry. Lelooska’s Kwakiutl (Kwakwaka’wakw) style ca...
PaintingEquestrian Portrait of Don Jose Andres Sepulveda, c.1856Henri Joseph PenelonOil on canvas; 43 in. x 35 in.2429Artist Henri Joseph Penelon, born in Lyon, France in 1827 and active in El Pueblo de los Angeles by 1853 was an active painter and daguerreotype photographer. In 1853 the year in which Penelon arrived in Los Angeles, photography was...
Soul Boats, 20th centuryKuna people; PanamaBalsa wood and pigment; 26.5 x 12 x 31 in; 25 x 8 x 26 in.Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest and Auguste Roschen96.5.1; 96.5.2The Kuna people of Panama are best known for their colorful textiles called molas and much research and many exhibitions have been dedicated to this aspect of their artistic production. Fa...
Horsehair Baskets and PotteryCollected 1940-1960Southwest United StatesVarious Dimensions#2003.30.165,.171,.175,.330,.351A, .351B,.362A,.362B,.394,.420Over four hundred miniature baskets and works of pottery make up this collection assembled between 1940 and 1960. Purchased in the Southwest United States, many of the pieces came from hardware store...
Cash RegisterManufactured by the National Cash Register Company, 1910Oak, brass and marble; 66" H76.7.1The National Cash Register Company, based in Dayton, Ohio manufactured this Model 500 cash register in 1910. This particular model was first produced in 1905 and was the first to be equipped with an electric motor. This ten-drawer machine is brass...
Danganan, early 20th centuryMaranao Culture, Mindanao Island, Philippines Ivory, copper, silver and wood; 8 in x 5.5 in.96.27.1Pick Laudati Fund PurchaseThis exquisite and rare example of a danganan (ceremonial sword handle) once belonged to a Maranao royal. The danganan dates to the first half of the 19th century, a time between the fall of the ol...
Helmet Mask, 20th CenturyBena Biombo people; Democratic Republic of the Congo Wood, paint and feather; 15 1/2 x 12 x 5 7/8 in. F78.4.1Bowers Museum Foundation Acquisition Fund PurchaseWithin the Kasai province in central Democratic Republic of Congo are a number of very small, sometimes ancient tribes who have retained their individuality. Among th...
Pamphlet, c.1900Orange County, California The Most Celebrated Celery District in the World31462Printed for the Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce about 1900 this pamphlet heralds Orange County as The Most Celebrated Celery District in the World. The pamphlet is an early example of promotional material intended to draw investors and residents to the area...
Chinese Export Paintings, 1644-1911 A.D.Han people;Guangzhou, Guangdong, ChinaWatercolor on pith; 3 x 4 1/2 in.32203AGift of Miss Ruth MyersPainted on pith, a delicate and transparent vegetable-based paper, these tiny portrayals of Chinese people are vivid in color and in their ability to capture the imagination. The paintings are part of a ten pai...
Initiation Mask, 20th CenturyPende people; Democratic Republic of the CongoWood, fiber, pigment and metal; 16 x 10 x 10 1/2 in.F78.56.2Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin GamsonThis mask with a triangular face, domed forehead, closed eyes, flaring nostrils and half-open mouth revealing sharpened teeth is typical of a Mbuyu initiation mask. The coiffure made...
Canoe Prow Ornament (nguzu-nguzu), 20th centurySolomon Islands, MelanesiaWood, shell and paint; 13 x 7 in.Gift of Dwight V. Strong84.37.12Early Solomon Islanders were noted for their aggressive attacks on neighboring islands and head-hunting activities. Expeditions to neighboring islands were carried out in large highly decorated canoes capable of ...
Cog Stones, suggested date 6000-3500 B.C.Milling Stone Horizon Peoples; Southern CaliforniaVarious stones including basalt; average dimension: 3.75 x 1.5 in.Gifts of Chas M. Decker, Mary J. Newland and Hirim Whisler478, 536, 11669, 3649, 477Known as cog stones or cogged stones, these archaeological materials have been found throughout the Southern ...
Head Ornament, 20th centuryChina; Guizhou Province; Miao Culture, Dandu StyleSilver and linen; 13 x 22 in.Gift of Danny and Anne Shih2005.32.2This intricately designed head ornament was worn as part of a Miao woman’s costume for festive occasions. In a technique called repoussé the thin silver was embellished by hammering the opposite side to creat...
Statue of Saint Anthony of Padua, c. 1800Made in Mexico; Used in Southern CaliforniaWood, gesso, paint, cloth, glass, and silver; 60” heightGift of Rosita Yorba Locke20786One of the most treasured objects of the Bowers Museum is the beautiful and historically significant hand carved wooden statue of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of lost items, th...
Feast Bowl (brukei), c.1900Bipi Island, Northwest Admiralty Islands, Papua New GuineaWood, parinarium nut mastic; 25 3/8 in. diameterPurchased with funds provided by the Jordan Community Trust2007.20.1This beautiful carved wood feast bowl originates from Bipi Island, one of the forty islands that make up the Admiralty Island group, found approximat...
Powder Horn, 1754-1763American; French and Indian War PeriodHorn and wood; 10.25” LGift of Mrs. H. Merritt Adamson6367This engraved powder horn was carried by a soldier of the French and Indian War. The horn would have been filled with powder used to fire a musket. Powder horns were usually engraved with their owner’s name and a variety of other pe...
Photograph of "Laughing Bill" Nickols (1862-1940)American; c. 1930Photographer Edward E. Cochems (1874-1935)Gift of Mr. Charles D. Swanner37104William S. Nickols was nicknamed "Laughing Bill" because of his high hysterical and very contagious laugh, as proven by the men's faces in this photograph. A Santa Ana resident, Nickols was given free passes...
Carving of a Wedding ProcessionYoruba people, NigeriaWood, cowrie shell and beads; 6 3/4 x 14 1/2 x 14 1/2 in.Bowers Museum Acquisition Fund Purchase77.73.1This unique wood carving of the Yoruba people of Nigeria, illustrates a wedding procession depicting five male and eight female figures aligned in five rows. Each figure has been carved separate...
HorseChinese; Song – early Ming Dynasty (AD 960-c.1460)Terracotta; 36 x 31 in.Gift of Heather Sacre2001.6.1.1-.3Horses have played a vital role in the history of China for thousands of years. Some evidence suggests that they were first domesticated as early as the 13th century BC. During the Han Dynasty the Chinese Emperor Wudi began a vigorous bre...
Fish Spirit, 20th centuryArtist Ben Sisia (1931- ); New IrelandWood, natural pigments and shell; 38.5 x 15 in.Purchased with funds provided by Trude Jordan 2006.7.1a,bThis evil fleshless fish spirit is said to always be found swimming alone. Here his vicious fangs are thoroughly exposed and his eyes, made of shell, are full of malicious intent. Ear...
Food Bowls, 20th centurySawos People, East Sepik Province, Papua New GuineaCeramic and natural pigments; 12.25 diameter each2004.6.38; 2004.6.44Gift of Dr. and Mrs. David and Karina RillingThese food bowls are part of a larger collection originating from the Sawos people in East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea. Each highly decorated utilitarian bo...
Chief’s Stool, late 19th centuryCook Islands, PolynesiaWood; 5.5 x 8.25 x 18.18 in.Bowers Museum purchase courtesy of the Pick Laudati Fund2008.2.1With a slightly upturned bench and robust sweeping legs, this 19th century chief's stool has the lines of a contemporary work of art. Carved from a single piece of wood it is a very fine example of its k...
Cosmetic or Ointment Box, 20th centuryKuba people; Democratic Republic of CongoWood, tacks and camwood powder; 11.5 x 6.5 in.Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Richard BaumF77.70.31The Kuba culture is concerned with beauty; not only is art required for court and religious purposes, but everyday objects are decorated as well. The Kuba produce an amazing variety o...
Ceremonial Painting, 20th centuryYao people, ChinaPaper, natural pigment and fiber; 45 x 19.5 in2002.47.30Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Long Shung and Anne ShihThe Yao people live throughout southern China with some populations found throughout northern areas of Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. The Yao practice a form of Taoism, and paintings of the pantheon o...
Spirit Mate, late 19th – 20th centuryBaule people, Ivory CoastWood, bead, paint and kaolin; 10.5 in HGift of Dwight V. Strong82.31.14This Baule carved figure of a female was carved to embody a spirit mate. Each individual is thought to have a partner of the opposite sex in the spirit world. If an individual is experiencing problems or difficulties,...
Bowl, 19th CenturyPolynesian Culture, Marquesas IslandsWood , 7 in. height x 18 in. diameterPurchased with Bowers Acquisition Funds2004.34.1This carved wood bowl from the Marquesas Islands has a diameter of 18 inches making it remarkable in size compared to other known examples in museum collections. The broad interior of the bowl is smooth with re...
Mask, 20th centuryKamayura people, Xingu River Basin, BrazilFiber, wood, pigment and wax; 37 x 8 in.Gift of Mr. Michael S. Merrifield91.22.1Carved from a single piece of wood this mask was worn and performed during a ceremony by a Kamayura shaman. The long fiber strands are woven into a cap on the reverse side of the mask that was secured over the ...
Business Ledger of Don Tomás Yorba; 1841-1849Santa Ana, CaliforniaPaper, cow hide, ink; 11 3/4 x 8 1/2 in.5071The most historically significant book in the Bowers Museum’s collection is this ledger or book of accounts used by Don Tomás Antonio Yorba and later, his brother Bernardo, to record the business affairs, transactions of goods, and the sett...
Basketry Shield, late 19th – 20th centuryZande people; Democratic Republic of Congo and SudanSplit rattan cane and wood; 47 3/4 x 23 in.Gift of Martha Ann Bryson2003.60.9The Zande populate the northern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the southern region of Sudan. Historically noted as extraordinary warriors who mastered militaristic ...
Storage Vessel (urpu), 15th – early 16th centuryInca culture; PeruCeramic and glaze; 13 x 11 x 9 in.F81.18.1Bowers Museum Foundation Acquisition Fund Purchase Photo by Minshu Wang This spouted vessel with conical base, side handles and a central lug with a stylized animal face represents one of the most common types of ceramic vessels from the Inca...
Photograph by Minshu WangRaven Rattle, late 19th centuryTlingit Culture; Fort Wrangell, AlaskaWood, paint and cedar twine; 14 x 4.25 in.Gift of the John J. Burkhard Family89.34.1This Tlingit ceremonial rattle is carved in two sections and bound together with cedar twine. The rattle is intricately designed with various stylized animals and a human f...
Milliner's Model Doll with Apollo Knot Hair, c.1830GermanyPapier-mâché, cotton, wood, leather and chemise; 23 in.86.17.1This beautiful example of an early German-made Milliner's Model doll is remarkable in condition and rare in size, measuring at least twelve inches taller than average. The head made of papier-mâché has hand painted details and fea...
Saddle, 20th century Miao people; Guizhou Province , China Silver Gift of Richard and Mary Cramer 2009.16.1 For young Miao women, when it comes to personal adornment, the more silver one has the better, and one’s beauty is marked by the heaviness of her ornaments. Young women of marriageable age take part in courting festivals where they hope to at...
Maze Stone, prehistoricGabrieliño/Juaneño people; Trabuco Canyon, CaliforniaGranite; 6 1/2 tonsBowers Museum CollectionThe mysterious granite Maze Stone rests at the base of the giant prickly pear cactus in the Key Courtyard of the Bowers. Much speculation has arisen regarding the maze-like petroglyphs inscribed on its surface, considerably dimmed ...
They have lined the most famous avenues and plazas in the world and now Fernando Botero’s monumental sculptures come to Bowers Museum, Santa Ana. Three beautiful, big and bronze works of art by the acclaimed artist are on view in the musuem’s Key Courtyard as part of the upcoming exhibition The Baroque World of Fernando Botero.Fernando BoteroSmokin...
It has been a priveldge for Bowers Museum to host Art of the Samurai: Selections from the Tokyo National Museum. Over 18,000 visitors came to see first hand the exquisite craftsmanship evident in each of the objects on display. Those who didn’t get a chance to see the exhibition can still purchase a copy of the catalog from our gift shop that bears...
Only a couple more days until the Secrets of the Silk Road exhibition opens to the public. We are working fast and furiously to make sure everything is in its place. Our designers converse about the placement of the glass back lit floor to be installed. Text panels lean against the walls and open exhibit furniture awaits objects to be installed.Our...
Bowers staff works with Xinjiang Museum and Xinjiang Archaeology Institute couriers to unpack a 7th-9th Century wooden tomb figure of a horse from the Astana tombs. The last few days at the museum have been focused on uncrating, unpacking, condition reporting and installing objects for the Secrets of the Silk Road exhibition. We have had a lot of i...
Indonesian Dance Shield (Salawaku), 19th centurySeram Island, Maluku Islands, IndonesiaWood, shell & pigment; 27 x 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in.85.24.5Gift of Dwight V. StrongThe Maluku Islands (Moluccas) lie west of the large island of New Guinea. The people, who live on the hundreds of scatters of islands belonging to Indonesia, were once considered Mela...
Whole Cloth Quilt, 1776Lucretia Smith ; Missouri or IowaLinen and woolGift of Ethel G. Abbott37075 This heavy quilted bedcover is elaborately decorated with hand stitched twisting vines, curving acanthus leaves, bunches of grapes and blooming flowers stemming from a Tree of Life, a British design style carried to the new American colonies. Quilts o...
I am back in Beijing after a whirlwind of a trip to Urumuqi where we finished condition reporting the bulk of the objects coming to Bowers Museum for the Secrets of the Silk Road exhibition. As expected, the objects are far more beautiful in person and really incredible when considering their age and what they tell us about people, trade and cultur...
Adjusting to the time difference of 16 hours has been a challenge today. The shopping and eating in Beijing have been great but now I am excited to head off to the Xinjiang province and the city of Urumqi, the Guiness Book of World Record holder for largest city farthest from any main body of water. Most I am looking forward to finally seeing the o...
Adoration of the Shepherds, c. mid-16th centuryAttributed to Michiel, the elder, Coxie (Flemish, 1499-1592)Oil on oak panel;12 x 9 1/2 in. 81.13.1Gift of Mr. Vasek PolakDonated to the Bowers Museum in 1967, this oil on panel painting is a fragment of a larger work likely depicting the biblical scene commonly referred to as the Ador...
Human Tooth Necklace (Vuasagale), 18th – 19th CenturyFiji, PolynesiaHuman tooth and fiberJordan Community Trust Purchase2010.2.1A braided fiber strand holds together the 203 human teeth that make up this extraordinary necklace. Only two types of teeth, the incisors and canines, were used in the necklace’s construction; this is to say that the neckl...
Female Ancestor Figure (Tau-tau), c.1980Sa Dan Toraja culture, IndonesiaWood, paint, textile, hair and glass; 58 x 19 x 212009.13.1Bowers Museum PurchaseA tau-tau is an effigy of the dead carved upon the death of a wealthy family member. In the past the sculptures were placed near the dead during long and elaborate funerals that sometimes lasted up...
First Phase Chief's Blanket, c. 1850-1860Navajo people; American southwestWool; 71 1/2 x 53 3/4 in.1845Gift of Charles F. NewcombeA few years ago Collection staff came across this beautiful First Phase Chief's Blanket while assessing the Native American collection. This early type of Navajo weaving is rare and highly sought after object of American...
Wells Fargo Strong Box, c.1855CaliforniaWood, iron, leather, and paint; 10 1/2 x 21 1/2 x 14 in.32739BGift of Mr. Eugene H. Hite, Sr.The need for a reliable delivery system arose as Americans moved west in the 1800s, seeking gold and land for settlement. Anticipating this need, Wells Fargo and Company was founded in 1852 in San Francisco. Their ban...
Pair of Ceremonial Feathered Moccasins (bottom view), date unknownAboriginal people; Western AustraliaFiber, emu feather and human hair; 5 x 9 x 1 in.92.3.1.1-.2Gift of Mr. George BrookAt first glance, the view of the bottom of this pair of oval-shaped shoes may inspire thoughts of comfort. Its emu feathers and thick fiber weave would possibly give...
Only two weeks until the anticipated exhibition Ben Franklin: In Search of a Better World opens at the Bowers. Our Registration and Collection staff members began uncrating and inspecting the condition of the 18th century items that belonged to and shaped the ideas of prolific inventor, civic leader, diplomat, profound thinker, printer and humorist...
Initiation Mask, 20th centuryBayaka people; Democratic Republic of Congo Wood, raffia and paint; 25 x 17 x 11 in.F74.12.2Bowers Museum PurchaseMuch importance is placed on the training and initiation of Bayaka boys for adulthood. Young boys of puberty age are trained in the n-khanda or bush school located in an isolated area away from the village. ...
Over Modeled Skull, 20th CenturyMiddle Sepik River area, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaHuman skull, clay, pigment, shell, and human hair; 5 7/8 x 5 7/8 x 7 15/16 in.99.43.9Donated by Rear Admiral Ralph and Sara GarrisonThis over modeled skull is a funerary ritual object from the Middle Sepik River area in Papua New Guinea and can ...
Tunic and Skirt, 20th centuryLi people; Hainan Island, ChinaLinen and cotton;38 x 28 in.2008.6.16Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Danny and Anne ShihIn the past, China’s Han people, the majority ethnic group in China, and their culture were the primary focus of academic investigation in many fields of study, including art history. Such a narrow scope severely ...
Birds, Animals, and Flowering Plants in Imaginary SceneItō Jakuchū (1716-1800)Edo Period, 18th centuryPair of six-panel folding screens, ink and colors on paperEach: 168.7 x 374.4 cmCourtesy of the Etsuko and Joe Price CollectionThese paintings are remarkable in thousands of ways – about 43,000 to be exact. That is roughly the number of squares tha...
Memorial Statues (Balbals), reproductions Mongolia and Central Asia Gift of National Museum of History, TaipeiThe Bowers’ grounds are home to two statues that you may or may not have passed without even realizing it. One of the two stands sentry at the Main Street entrance to the museum while the other sits next to a small fountain and trees in the...
Flag Quilt, c. 1915Maker unknown; AmericanCotton and wool; 61 1/2 x 75 1/2 in.31932Gift of Mrs. I. KalebaughThe many different printed flannel rectangles that make up the design of this quilt’s top were not handmade by the quilt maker. Rather, they were received upon the purchase of a pack of cigarettes. Known as tobacco flannels, the novelties wer...
TigerItō Jakuchū (1716-1800)Edo period, dated Hōreki 5 (1755)Hanging scroll, ink and colors on silk129.7 x 71 cmProminently displayed in the gallery, and a favorite among many, is Jakuchū's painting titled Tiger. Though they had never seen live tigers, Japanese artists used tiger skins as inspiration for their paintings. Problems arose, however, fr...
Rooster, Hen, and Hydrangeas Itō Jakuchū (1716-1800)Edo Period, 18th CenturyHanging Scroll, ink and colors on silk140cm x 85 cmCourtesy of the Etsuko and Joe Price CollectionJakuchū undoubtedly was fascinated by chickens and roosters, as seen by his many depictions of fowl in his works. He studied them wholeheartedly, reportedly following them arou...
Officer’s Frock Coat, 19th centuryCivil War period; AmericanWool and brass; 45 x 19 in.3465Gift of Mrs. G.A. EnsingerThis date, April 12, marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. April 12, 1861 is remembered not only as the date that a group of Confederate soldiers attacked and captured a United States’ military installation at Fo...
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Komo Society Mask, late 19th-early 20th century Bamana people; Mali Wood, porcupine quill, horn, mud and sacrificial material; 14 ½ x 10 ½ x 20 in. F77.21.15 Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Philip KeevePrimarily agriculturalists, the Bamana people of Mali number about 1.5 million people. Agriculture plays an important role in their religion, evident in the va...
Wheeled Jaguar Effigy, c. 550-800 A.D.Veracruz, MexicoCeramic and wood; 3 5/8 x 2 1/2 x 4 3/4 in.94.43.1Gift of Mrs. Sharon W. Ettinger Normal 0 false false false EN-US ZH-TW X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-prior...
The Bowers Museum staff is making final preparations for the highly anticipated Fabergé: Imperial Jeweler to the Tsars opening on June 23, 2012. The exhibition comes courtesy of the McFerrin Collection and the Houston Museum of Natural Science and will be on exhibit through the holidays until January 6, 2013. Here is the centerpiece of ...
Shield, late 19th-early 20th CenturyAmarro people; southwestern EthiopiaAnimal hide; 26 1/8 x 25 1/2 x 6 in.2003.60.13Gift of Ms. Martha Ann BrysonThe phrase “looks can be deceiving” applies to this African shield. It may appear plain-looking, but its creation and use are anything but simple. The shield is crafted from the hides of the rhinoceros, ...
Standing Female Figure, c. 300-550 A.D.Remojadas culture; Veracruz, MexicoCeramic and black pitch; 25 x 16 15/16 x 6 1/8 in.2003.10.2Gift of Peter G. WrayThe region of Veracruz in eastern Mexico has provided archaeologists with highly interesting objects that have helped them gain insight to culture, technological advances, artistic achievements an...
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800x600 Male Headdress Masks (Sisiu), 20th CenturySulka people; East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaWood, fiber, tonga leaves and natural pigment; 31 1/2 x 31 x 23 1/2 in. 2009.6.1 Bowers Museum General Acquisition Fund PurchaseFemale Headdress Mask (Sisiu), 20th CenturySulka people; East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, Me...
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Burden Basket, late 19th - early 20th centuryWestern Apache people; ArizonaWillow, devil's claw, buckskin fringe and cloth; 12 x 16 1/4 x 18 3/4 in.33133Gift of Mr. Lawrence GaleThe conical burden basket of the Western Apache seen at the Bowers Museum is uniquely a woman’s accessory. The basket woven from willow branches and adorned with devi...
Nimba Headdress, 20th century Nalu culture;Guinea or Guinea-Bissau, AfricaWood and paint; 53 1/2 x 24 x 15 in.2012.7.1Gift of Dr. Charles and Eileen MohlerImage Courtesy Heather James Fine Art If you have been through the doors of our south lobby lately, you will have noticed that there is a new object in the entranceway greeting our visitors. This...
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One of the largest states during the Warring States period of China (475-221 BCE), the Chu held onto much of their traditional beliefs despite pressure from the former Zhou dynasty to adopt new beliefs. One of theseTomb Demon, Warring States Period to Western Han Dynasty (475 B.C. - 9 A.D.)Han people; ChinaWood and paint; 28 x 25 1/2 in.97.122.1Gif...
Indian Potter, c. 1914Eanger Irving Couse (American, 1866-1936)Oil on canvas; 29 1/2 x 33 1/2 in.F7709Gift of Martha C. Stevens Memorial Art CollectionE.I. Couse was born Eanger Irving Couse on September 3, 1866 in Saginaw, Michigan. At an early age Couse was exposed to the Chippewa people, a Native American tribe living close to his home in ...
Doorboard (Amitung), 20th CenturyTelefol people; Telefomin village, Star Mountains, Sandaun (West Sepik) Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaWood and paint; 109 ½ x 33 ½ x 1 1/8 in. 2009.5.12Bowers Museum General Acquisition Fund PurchaseThe Telefomin are one of several related highland peoples known as the “Min” or “Mountain Ok” who live in the S...
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Relics of a Spanish Galleon Shipwreck, 18thCenturyMexican made; found at Solana Beach, CaliforniaWood; 7 1/2 - 5 1/2 in.39088.1-.2 Normal 0 false false false EN-US ZH-TW X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:9...
Shark Tooth Hand Sword, mid 19th CenturyI-Kiribati culture; Gilbert Islands, Kiribati, MicronesiaPalm wood, shark skin, shark teeth, reed and sennit; 19 × 2 1/2 × 3/4 in.2014.17.1Bowers Museum Purchase Normal 0 false false false EN-US ZH-TW X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0...
Coquette Doll, c. 1903-1912Made by Gebrüder Heubach, GermanyBisque, satin, lace, and muslin; 21 in.7893Gift of E.P. Cutter Normal 0 false false false EN-US ZH-TW X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-s...
Ceremonial Dance Axe (Pem), early 20th CenturyTolai culture; East New Britain Province, New Britain, Bismarck Archipelago, Papua New Guinea, Melanesia, OceaniaWood and paint; 37 1/2 × 4 1/2 × 1 in.2014.18.1Bowers Museum PurchaseThe pem of the Tolai people are a part of a group of sacred objects known as pokopoko. Wooden pokopoko were typically made...
Hunan Province CountrysideAfter working for a week in busy downtown Changsha, China Bowers’ staff members were delighted to head to the country and feast their eyes on the paintings of Qi Baishi. An exhibition of the artist’s paintings, seals and wood carvings has been in the works for more than a year. It is the first time, and most likely the las...
Feather Mosaic Dance Ornament, 20th CenturyAymara people; Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca, BoliviaCane, feather and fiber; 1/2 x 22 x 13 3/4 in.94.2.1.6Gift of the Gift of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Law Enforcement Normal 0 false false false EN-US ZH-TW X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table No...
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Jacob Frères, armchair (fauteuil) from the Council Room (Salle du Conseil), Malmaison, France, 1800. Painted and gilded beech; original under-upholstery and red wool show cover (silk, velvet, and gilded silver trim), 38 x 26. x 28 in. New York Historical Society, gift of Louis Borg, 1867.438. © New York Historical Society. Normal 0 false false fals...
Unknown, Portrait of a Young Woman with a Harpsichord, Mexico, early 18th century. Oil on canvas, 61⅝ x 40⅜ in. Denver Art Museum, gift of Frederick and Jan Mayer, 3.2007. Photo courtesy Denver Art Museum. Normal 0 false false false EN-US ZH-TW X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowba...
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Don Pio Pico, 1868Henry J. Frey (American, b?-d?)Oil on canvas; 24 x 20 in.3513Gift of Mrs. John ForsterIt’s safe to say most of today’s Californians have heard the name Pío Pico, even if they can’t place him as the last Mexican governor of California. He was a man who started with nothing and ended with nothing, but was among the richest Californi...
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La Buenaventura, c. 1927Charles Percy Austin (American, 1883-1948)Oil on canvas; 34 x 36 in.32195aGift of Mr. Ralph J. StevenHanging in the California Paintings Hall of the Bowers Museum is a rather striking painting titled La Buenaventura, or The Good Fortune. What might be standard fare, an early 20th century genre painting carried out by a mo...
Standing Female Figure, early 20th CenturyAsmat culture; Papua (Irian Jaya) Province, Indonesia, MelanesiaWood and bone; 45 1/2 × 9 × 10 in.2013.19.1Bowers Museum PurchaseWith approximately 70,000 inhabitants living in hundreds of villages,the cultural region of Asmat is located along the southwestern coast and inland region of the world’s third la...
Spirit Jar, Western Jin Dynasty (281-316 A.D.)ChinaCeramic; 16 1/2 x 8 3/8 in.2000.65.2Gift of Heather SacreThe Spring Festival refers to the lunar calendar, yet also pertains to folklore referring to the period beginning with the ceremony for worshipping the Kitchen God on the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month, and ending with the Lanter...
A “Heart” Shot, Late 19th CenturyUnknown Artist; United States of AmericaPaper and Ink31055.4Gift of Mrs. John S. HelmkenThe late 19th Century in the United States presented many burgeoning technologies, such as the steam engine and electricity to name a few examples. Methods of communication seemed to move more rapidly, with the ease of the nation...
Living in Southern California has its perks; the most obvious one being the invariably warm climate. It does not take much effort to stumble upon California in popular culture, as certain words flash in our minds such as Hollywood, the film industry, or Los Angeles.“Silver Moon” Lemon Crate Label Print, c. 1945San Fernando Heights Lemon Association...
In this uncharacteristically chilly cold weather in Southern California, are you dreaming of a beachside getaway as much as we are at the Bowers? Women's Swimsuit, early 20th CenturyUnited States of AmericaCotton; 19 3/4 x 35 3/4 in.2010.20.1Gift of Mrs. Bunny LawsonBy 1900, people were flocking to the beach for popular seaside-oriented activities ...
Before films came into being and after still photography garnered world-wide popularity, there was a brief era when the stereoscopic image was the primary source for capturing all things exotic and lesser-known. Our featured image is a stereograph thematically appropriate for this Holiday season, titled, “Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus, Palestine,” that...
Daoist Priest's Robe (Daogongfu), 20th CenturyYao culture; Possibly Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous RegionCotton and silkGift of Mr. and Mrs. Danny and Anne ShihIn American popular culture, we have seen the Yin Yang symbol emblazoned on items from wallets to jewelry—but do we really know the cultural origin of this circular emblem? The answer lies i...
Cannon, mid 18th to early 19th CenturyPossibly SpanishWood and cast iron; 22 1/2 x 35 3/4 x 22 1/2 in.82.2.1Bowers Museum PurchaseBuried treasure unearths a secret yearning to explore in the hearts of sailors and landlubbers alike. The truth though, is that if treasure hunting was easy or especially rewarding the entire world would be combing the d...
Untitled, c. 1885Ferdinand Richardt (American, [b. Demark] 1819-1895)Oil on canvas; 71 1/4 x 47 3/4 x 5 in.40722Anonymous Gift"Suddenly, from behind the rim of the Moon, in long, slow-motion moments of immense majesty, there emerges a sparkling blue and white jewel, a light, delicate sky-blue sphere laced with slowly swirling veils of white, rising...
Star Egg Carriers and Tray’s Egg Carton, c. 1906Rochester, New YorkWood and jute board; 2 ¾ x 6 3/8 x 8 1/4 in. 32845A, BGift ofDr. & Mrs. Emory S. MooreMany things are not made to be broken: paintings, sculptures, Bowers Museum’s rare artifacts from Oceania and Asia; these cultural objects demand proper handling techniques. Eggs on the other h...
Hoko-san "Good Luck" Doll, 20th CenturyJapanese; Takamatsu City, Shikoku Island, JapanPapier maché, paint and synthetic hair; 5 1/2 × 3 × 3 in.87.4.42aGift of the Clarence and Evanda Perry TrustGood luck charms are used in a variety of cultures to ward off evil spirits and diseases. These talismans can take many forms: rings, pendants, human and an...
Ambiguous Image of Three Men, Two Women and a Goat, early 20th CenturyArtist unknownPossibly chromolithograph; 5 3/4 x 5 1/4 x 1/2 in.6490Gift of Mrs. H. Merritt AdamsonHe lived as a devil, eh? It’s far from often that we come across palindromes like the preceding sentence, phrases which can be inverted to spell out the same message as they wo...
Sculpture of Man with Seal, c. 1950Abraham Pov (Inuit, 1927-1994); CanadaSoapstone; 7 1/4 x 10 x 10 1/4 in. 92.20.8Gift of the Les Aikman FamilyHauntingly staring directly at onlookers, this Inuit soapstone carving made by the indigenous artisan Abraham Pov is an important artifact in the 20thcentury’s history of Inuit peoples. Prior to the early 1...
In honor of the belief that Daylight Saving Time was designed to benefit farmers, here is one of the paintings from our collection of California artworks. Rural California, 1940Evylena Nunn Miller (American, 1888-1966)Oil on Canvas; 30 x 36 1/2 in.F7711Gift of Evylena Nunn Miller This landscape with white barn, tall eucalyptus trees, farm wago...
Miquelet Pistol, c. 1750 Ripoll, Catalonia, SpainWood, engraved brass, iron and steel; 10 3/4 in.F80.65.1Bowers Museum Foundation Acquisitions Fund PurchaseMiquelet Pistol, c. 1750 Ripoll, Catalonia, SpainWood, engraved brass, iron and steel; 2 x 10 3/4 x 5 in.F80.65.2Bowers Museum Foundation Acquisitions Fund PurchaseDetail of F80.65.1Th...
Spoons, mid 19th CenturyDuhme & Co.; Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of AmericaCoin silver; Various dimensions19939, 19940, 19951, 19955Gift of Ms. Sarah Jane Brittenham EstateIn honor of President’s Day, we present to you a set of silver spoons used during the Van Buren administration in the mid-19th Century. One may not automatically think fl...
The Historic Museum Hallway in the Bowers Museum's Mary Muth Historic Wing.Visitors to the Bowers often ask about the origins of the museum’s Mary Muth Historic Wing which deceptively bears a striking resemblance to an old rancho home or a forgotten Santa Ana mission. With Frank Lloyd Wright: Architecture of the Interior just recently ope...
Judgement Mask (Gla Kla’a), mid 20th CenturyGuéré People; Ivory Coast, AfricaWood, fabric, hair, metal, feather and paint; 13 in.2002.59.4Gift of James CaronaChaos is part and parcel of the world in which we live. Entropic forces can take any number of forms, and though they usually cannot directly be battled, the We peoples of the southwestern for...
Straight Razors, 19th to early 20thCenturyVarious makers; Various countriesSteel and horn; 6 x 7/8 x 3/8 in.31403.4-.6Harry and Mabel Duffill CollectionAlbert Duffill, 1891Unknown photographer; Toronto, CanadaPhotographic print; 12 x 10 1/2 in. 31370.3Harry and Mabel Duffill CollectionAlthough specific traditions and dates for Father’s Day differ f...
House Façade, mid 18th CenturyProbably Ketagalan; probably Gongliao District, New Taipei City, TaiwanCamphor wood; 94 × 107 × 1 in.L.2017.1.1a,bLoan Courtesy of the Pomona College Museum of ArtGift of Dr. William KirkThere is in my possession a plank which a hundred years ago was the end of a native chief's house. It is a single piece of more than ...
A Great Wish,1998Loretta Yang, Liu Li Gong Fang (USA), Inc. Pate de verre and glass; 11 1/2 x 12 x 25 in2001.19.1Gift of Liu Li Gong Fang (USA), Inc.Loretta Hui-Shan Yang’s A Great Wish rests luminously in the Bowers Museum’s Thompson Foyer, a larger-than-life-size glass sculpture of an infant nestled safely in the palm of a hand. Located in the br...
Slit Gong Drum (Garamut), late 18th-19th CenturyGovermas village, Blackwater River, Middle Sepik River region, East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea, MelanesiaGaramut wood; 19 x 17 x 77 in.2004.64.1 Anonymous GiftMusic plays a role in every human culture on earth, and often musical instruments are culturally just as rich as the sounds they produce....
Baby Cradle, 19th centuryYurok, Karok or Hupa people; Northern CaliforniaHazelnut shoots and leather; 12 x 24 in.39635Gift of Mrs. George TsudaMoms carry us, it’s just what they do. Whether it’s a shoulder to lean on after a stressful week or watching our own kids to let us have a night out, we should be thankful for loving mothers year-round; Moth...
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