Double balsamarium (large vessel)

Object Details

• Provenance

  ?- 1928

  Thomas Walker Barlow (1840-1928), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1928-1972

  Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN, by bequest of Thomas Barlow Walker [2]

  1972

  Sale, New York, Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc., “Antiquities and Oriental Art: The Thomas Barlow Walker Collection,” September 26-28, 1972, lot 126 [3]

  1972

  Safani Gallery, New York, purchased at Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc. auction September 26, 1972 [4]

  1972-1973

  Gawain McKinley, London, UK, purchased from Safani Gallery, New York [5]

  From 1973

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Gawain McKinley, London, UK [6]

  Notes:

  [1] See Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc., “Antiquities and Oriental Art: The Thomas Barlow Walker Collection, Sold for the Benefit of the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis,” [auction catalog] (New York, September 26-28, 1972), lot 126. The object is described as “Roman Glass flask, circa 4th Century A.D. Pale blue-green vessel with folded tubular body encircled by spiral thread, and high triple handle with tails looping down the sides. Height 9 ½ inches.” See also object file for copy of Gawain McKinley letter to H. P. Stern, dated April 18, 1973. McKinley wrote, “The multi-looped and threaded ‘balsamarium’ was lot 126 in the sale at Parke-Bernet of the Thomas Barlow Walker Collection on September 26th 1972. Safani bought the piece and I brough the piece from him. The glass is illustrated in the catalogue.”

  Thomas Barlow “T. B.” Walker was a prosperous Minnesotan businessman, philanthropist, and art collector. Walker was one of the wealthiest men in America in the early twentieth century, having made his fortune in logging in northern Minnesota. Early in his collecting, Walker focused on European paintings but expanded his collection to Greek pottery and Ancient Egyptian and Roman glass and jewelry, then Chinese ceramics and jades. In 1879 he built a gallery adjoining his residence and opened his collection to the public, with free admission. By 1927, the newly constructed Walker Art Center was opened in Minneapolis. In the decades after Walker’s death, the Center changed the focus of its collecting mission to contemporary and modern works. As a result, most of the paintings, sculptures, miniatures, and ancient objects were deaccessioned and sold at auctions in the later twentieth century. The Walker Chinese Jade collection ultimately entered the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] See note 1. Safani Gallery was founded in New York City by Edward Safani (1912-1998) in 1946. He was son-in-law to Dr. Benjamin Mahmoubian (1868-1968), and nephew by marriage to Khalil (1906-1961) and Ayoub (1902-1984) Rabenou. Safani apprenticed with his uncles in Paris before moving to New York in 1946. Safani was considered an expert in Islamic and ancient Near Eastern art as well as ancient glass, and his gallery sold major works to leading museums around the world. His son Alan Safani (b. 1947) has managed Safani Gallery since the death of Edward.

  [4] See object file for copy of Freer Gallery of Art vault record no. V29-73, indicating that the object, sent by Gawain McKinley, Ltd., London, was received by the Freer Gallery of Art on March 9, 1973. The object received for examination is described as “1 Syrian large glass vessel’ double balsamarium.” Gawain McKinley (b. 1945-1996) was a connoisseur, collector, and art dealer with a particular interest in ancient glass. Based primarily in London, he sold works to leading museums around the world. In 2006, antiquities from his estate were offered for sale by Bonhams.

  [5] See object file for copy of Gawain McKinley, Ltd. invoice to the Freer Gallery of Art, dated November 15, 1973, and approved by Robert A. Brooks, Acting Secretary, on December 3, 1973.

  Research updated December 1, 2023

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Untitled Exhibition, South Corridor (December 10, 1984 to July 10, 1986)

  Ancient Glass (May 26, 1982 to June 25, 1982)

  Untitled Exhibition, South Corridor (March 6, 1981 to May 7, 1984)

  A Decade of Discovery: Selected Acquisitions 1970-1980 (November 9, 1979 to May 22, 1980)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Thomas Barlow Walker (1840 - 1928)

  Walker Art Center

  Safani Gallery (established 1950)

  Gawain McKinley (1945-1996)

• Origin

  Syria

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  200s, 400s

• Name

  Walker, Thomas Barlow, Walker Art Center, McKinley, Gawain, Safani Gallery

• Topic

  Art, Ancient Near Eastern Art, Blow molding, Roman Period (30 BCE - 395 CE), Glassblowing

• Culture

  Middle Easterners, Syrians

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)