John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

About 2,300 objects bought in 1928 from the Metropolitan Museum's Cesnola duplicates sale; the largest Cypriot collection in the southern United States, mostly in storage, with an inventory and photographic record made 1997-98 (2001)

Karageorghis 2001, p. 2-4Karageorghis 1998

1. 1927
   John Ringling establishes the museum in the grounds of his Sarasota property; it opens permanently to the public in 1932.

   SarasotaJohn RinglingKarageorghis 2001, p. 3

2. 31 March 1928
   John Ringling, personally involved in the sale, buys 2,300 items for $56,000 at the Anderson Galleries sale of Cesnola duplicates held by the Metropolitan Museum (some 2,900 of about 3,500 items sold).

   New YorkJohn RinglingLuigi Palma di CesnolaKarageorghis 2001, p. 2Masson 1996

3. 1946
   The museum is transferred to the State of Florida, ten years after Ringling's death.

   SarasotaKarageorghis 2001, p. 3

4. 1950s
   Part of the Cypriot collection shown on the outdoor loggias, soon returned to storage because of weather.

   SarasotaKarageorghis 2001, p. 3-4

5. 14 April 1983 – 23 May 1983
   Ancient Art from Cyprus: The Ringling Collection, curated by Norma Kershaw, with a colloquium; catalogue with chapters by Herscher, Buitron and Mitten. Karageorghis and Swiny assisted.

   SarasotaNorma KershawDavid Gordon MittenVassos KarageorghisKarageorghis 2001, p. 4

6. 1996–2000
   Karageorghis visits (1983, 1996, Nov 2000) and writes to the directors urging a permanent Cypriot gallery and publication; unanswered until a new interim director and curators arrive in October 2000.

   SarasotaVassos KarageorghisKarageorghis 2001, p. 4-5Karageorghis 1998

7. 1997–1998
   Exhibition for the museum's fiftieth anniversary, curated by Pamela Russell and Murray McClellan with Aaron De Groft; Russell, McClellan and Pamela Gaber produce a complete inventory and photographic record.

   SarasotaPamela RussellMurray McClellanAaron H. De GroftPamela GaberKarageorghis 2001, p. 4

8. 2000
   Curator Mitchell Merling mounts a temporary ancient-art exhibition led by the best Cypriot pieces; the museum becomes affiliated with Florida State University.

   SarasotaMitchell MerlingKarageorghis 2001, p. 5Ringling Museum of Art…

• At least 13 Temple boy statuettes, ex-Cesnola

  from Kourion (Apollo Hylates), per typevia Metropolitan Museum of Art1928Masson 1996

• Statuettes from Pyla ex R. H. Lang through Cesnola

  from Pylavia Metropolitan Museum of Art1928Masson 1996

• Silver bracelet with snake-head terminals, found in a box of 'bronze' bracelets in the store room in 1983

  Karageorghis 2001, p. 4

• Cesnola-collection pieces held in storage; online records SN28.1800 (altar reusing a quadriga), SN28.1918, SN28.2079 under John Ringling bequest

  SN28.1800; SN28.1918; SN28.2079via John Ringling1936John & Art

• Black-on-Red Globular Jug with Concentric-Circle DecorationObject