Path of Destruction Maker: Margaret Seeler (American, born Germany, 1909–1996)
Maker: Frame maker Frances Felten (American, 1905–1976)

1964

American Decorative Arts

On view, 3rd floor, Modern and Contemporary Art and Design
Medium

Enamel on copper, fine silver, pewter, and pine frame

Dimensions

10 × 21 in. (25.4 × 53.34 cm)

Credit Line

Gift of Fredric T. Schneider, B.A. 1963, J.D. 1966, in honor of the Yale Law School Class of 1966 Fiftieth Reunion

Accession Number

2016.98.1

Geography

Made in Weston, Connecticut

Culture

American

Period

20th century

Classification

Paintings

Disclaimer

Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery’s complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of records is ongoing.

Provenance
Acquired from the artist by Morton Lee Polk (1910–1981), Westport, Conn., 1964 or shortly thereafter; inherited by his wife, Sara F. Polk (1916–1992), Westport, Conn., 1981; inherited by their daughter, Nina Polk Lipkowitz, 1992; dispersed as part of Polk's estate, 1993. Purchased at a craft fair in Rhinebeck, NY, by Fredric T. Schneider (1942–2022), New York, 2003; gift to Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Conn., 2016
Bibliography
  • John Stuart Gordon, "American Glass: The Collections at Yale," Antiques and the Arts Weekly (November 2, 2018), 30–31, ill
  • John Stuart Gordon, American Glass: The Collections at Yale (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 2018), 256–57, no. 133
  • "Acquisitions July 1, 2016–June 30, 2017," Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin (December 1, 2017), 9
Object copyright
Copyright Artist/Estate/Foundation
In Copyright
Additional information

Subject

Women makers

Marks

"1964" in lower corner of Adam and Eve panel; “S [within a circle]” lower corner of Destruction of Nature and Civilization panel; “ENAMEL – CLOISONNE / Margarete Seeler [script] / SET IN PEWTER & WOOD / Frances Felten [script]” engraved on fine silver tag nailed to the reverse of frame

Inscriptions

“NUM CUSTOS FRATRIS MEI SUM EGO [Am I my brother’s keeper?]” in raised fine silver letters along bottom of frame; “CAIN UBI EST ABEL FRATER TUUS [Cain, where is Able your brother?]” bisecting the center panel; “TRIUMPH” above the gate at upper corner of center panel

Signed


Technical metadata and APIs

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