Marco

NameTin Frame

Artist Isleta Tinsmith

CultureNew Mexican

Date1890 - 1910

Place madeNew Mexico, United States, North America

MediumTin, Paint, glass, photo, solder

DimensionsOverall: 9 1/4 x 11 1/8 in. (23.5 x 28.3 cm)

Credit LineGift of Steve and Dottie Diamant

Object numberA.2005.49.14

Collections

Provenancecollection of Steve and Dottie Diamant, owners of Fine Arts of the Southwest

DescriptionTin tan-shaped corner pieces are embossed with a "dotted i" pattern along the edge and a rosette in the center. The framing panels are reverse-painted glass with red paint removed in scalloped brush stroke relief and overpainted with a layer of shiny gold paint. In the center is a photo of a man, two women, and a child standing in front of a building with a long portal running across the front. This is possibly the convento of the San Agustín mission at Isleta Pueblo, and the family could be the Seis family who owned a trading post there (according to Theodore Jojola - CG). There is barbed wire in the foreground of the photograph, and the photograph dates to about 1900-1915.

This marco (frame) is attributable to the anonymous tinsmith working at Isleta Pueblo from about 1890 to 1920, who is remembered there as simply "The Mexican." The embossed rosettes at the corners and the reverse-painted glass are indicative of this artist. - Carla Gilfillan