We were a little sad but also happy our Buddha sculpture was heading to the Denver Art Museum. Last year Marla and I worked with Tianlong Jiao, the former curator of the Asian Art Department, to reunite the sculpture with its original Burmese pavilion. We donated the 19th century pavilion to the museum in 2017. It has been in storage awaiting the completion of the new gallery in the remodel of the Ponti building which is planned to open to the public in the fall this year.

The pavilion and the Buddha graced the entry way of our former Wesco Fabrics’ headquarters for over 20 years. Marla and I both could look at it from the windows in our offices.

We first saw a pavilion similar to this one while on a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

We bought the pavilion and Buddha sculpture from the home of one of our suppliers in Chiang Mai. When Wesco Fabrics was sold in 2017 we purchased it from the company. It was obviously too large for our home so we explored museums. A client recommended we talk to Tianlong Jiao at the Denver Art Museum’s Asian Art department. After viewing the piece and going through the Museums’ acquisition process we donated our beautiful pavilion.

Museum conservators delicately cleaned and dismantled the pavilion.

Marla watched the process.

Two weeks ago the museum conservators came to our home to analyze and document the condition of our Buddha sculpture as it will be a long-term loan.

Many photographs and notes were taken for the loan documents.

They carefully carried it downstairs.

After wrapping, it was gently placed in the box for transport to its place with the pavilion in a new home.

The new building and the refurbishing of the Denver Art Museum will be really interesting to visit when the complex reopens.

Tianlong emailed some artist renderings of the proposed new Southeast Asian gallery. Marla and I love Asian art and are so happy to have these pieces find a home that will care for and preserve them for the future. We look forward to having the pavilion and Buddha sculpture shared with others when the museum opens. We can’t wait!

We’ll let you know when the gallery opens.

Photos: Dick Gentry and Denver Art Museum. Not to be used without permission.