Benjamin March Records, 1927-1933 (Q110769820)
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Archival Collection
- Records of the Curator of Asiatic Art, Benjamin March, 1927-1933
| Language | Label | Description | Also known as |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | Benjamin March Records, 1927-1933 |
Archival Collection |
|
Statements
Records of the Curator of Asiatic Art, Benjamin March, 1927-1933 (English)
The records are primarily curatorial in nature. The files contain correspondence with art dealers in the field of Asian art, shipping receipts, arrangements for museum exhibitions, research requests and correspondence with patrons of the museum. Many references throughout the files pertain to attempts to acquire works of art for the DIA during Marchʹs tenure. Five major acquisitions were made during his six years at the museum. The Depression limited March and the DIA severely in their acquisitions. Those acquisitions were: two bronze Maitreyas of the 6th and 7th centuries (one dated AD 520); two fine stone statues of Sui and Wei Dynasties (one a Buddhist monk, the other a Kuan Yin dated 581); a monumental head of a lion (cast iron of the Tʹang Dynasty); a large Sung Celadon vase; and a number of rare early paintings like ʹʹEarly Autumnʹʹ by Chʹien Hsuan (or Chun Chu) of the 13th century ʹʹSpring Pastureʹʹ of the Yuan period. Other portions of the correspondence include his administrative responsibilities such as the search for a staff member for the Near-Eastern Art position. March was also very involved in research in his position. Correspondence notes his acquisitions of reference works for the Museum Library, his searches for art work and his avid interest in personal research of his own. (English)