Vase

Object Details

• Provenance

  ca. 1964-1971

  Dan Kwian kilns, manufactured object, Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) province, Thailand

  Between 1964 and 1971-2013

  Sarah M. Bekker (1923-2013), purchased in Thailand [1]

  2013

  Sale, Chevy Chase, MD, Sloans and Kenyon, “Sale 81 September Antique Auction,” September 20, 2013, lot 391 [2]

  2013-2016

  Louise A. Cort, purchased on September 20, 2013, Sloans and Kenyon Sale, Chevy Chase, MD [3]

  From 2016

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Louise A. Cort [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See Louise A. Cort’s “Curatorial Justification,” 2016, copy in object file. Acquired by Sarah M. Bekker while she was living in Bangkok with her husband, Dr. Konrad Bekker, between 1964 and 1971. Cort had expressed interest in acquiring this object from Bekker for the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery’s collection, but the transfer did not occur during Bekker’s lifetime.

  Dr. Sarah M. Bekker (1923-2013) was a collector, scholar, author, and lecturer on Asian art, with special interests in Thai art and the peoples and art of Burma. Along with her husband, Dr. Konrad Bekker (1911-1981), an Economics Officer with the US Department of State, she lived in India (1951-ca. 1953), Burma (1958-1961), and Thailand (1964-1971), and the couple was able to pursue their shared interest in the arts. While living abroad, Dr. Bekker amassed a collection of ceramics from Southeast Asia and China. In 1964, Dr. Bekker received her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the George Washington University, on a topic relating to Burmese concepts of duty, obligation, and "face." Her professional work included scholarly articles, book reviews, and slide lectures and presentations at Asian art focused organizations throughout the US and abroad.

  [2] See note 1.

  Described as “Pair Thai Sawankhalok Stoneware Vases. Flanked by loop-form handles.” The provenance was described as “Provenance: Estate of Konrad and Sarah M. Bekker, Arlington, VA. Acquired in the 1950s and 1960s.”

  [3] See note 1.

  [4] See Arthur M. Sackler Gallery “Acquisition Consideration Form,” approved on May 16, 2016, copy in object file.

  See also Arthur M. Sackler Gallery “Deed of Gift,” dated May 27, 2016, copy in object file. Louis A. Cort denoted the credit line as “Gift of Sarah M. Bekker.”

  Research updated March 3, 2023

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Sarah M. Bekker (1923-2013)

  Louise Allison Cort

• Origin

  Dan Kwian kilns, Dan Kwian, Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) province, Thailand

• Credit Line

  Gift of Sarah M. Bekker

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1960s, 1970s

• Name

  Bekker, Sarah M., Cort, Louise Allison

• Place

  Dan Kwian kilns, Nakhon Ratchasima, Dan Kwian, Thailand

• Topic

  Unglazed, Art, Stoneware, Dan Kwian ware, Southeast Asian Art, Bangkok period (1782 - 1932 ), Ceramics

• Culture

  Southeast Asians

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)