Entertainment · Books & Arts · 1 hr ago
Book examines Earl Stendahl’s role in trafficking ancient Mesoamerican objects
A 2026 book examines Los Angeles art dealer Earl Stendahl and the market for ancient Mesoamerican objects in the mid-20th century.
Researchers studied the Stendahl Art Galleries’ archive, now held at the Getty Research Institute.
They describe how the gallery helped sell objects obtained through illegal looting and smuggling, including to museums and collectors in Los Angeles.
The market grew as institutions and patrons increasingly treated pre-Hispanic objects as works of art as well as subjects of study.
Hollywood actors were also among the people drawn to these objects.
One example is a sculpture bought by the Minneapolis Institute of Art in 1947 for $10,000 and later found to be a forgery.
The book traces how these forces shaped museum collections and examines the cultural histories behind the objects.
A new book examines how Earl Stendahl and his Los Angeles galleries helped drive the looting, smuggling and sale of ancient Mesoamerican objects.
Artifacts to Art: Collecting Ancient America in Midcentury L.A. was written by Andrew D. Turner, Mary E. Miller and Khristaan D. Villela.
The book draws on the Stendahl Art Galleries’ archive, now held at the Getty Research Institute.
The Minneapolis Institute of Art bought a sculpture described as a “King Chak Mool” in 1947 for $10,000, but a specialist later found it was a forgery.
The book explores how museums, Hollywood actors and looters helped create a market for pre-Hispanic objects.
- Who
- Earl Stendahl and the researchers who wrote the book: Andrew D. Turner, Mary E. Miller and Khristaan D. Villela.
- What
- A book examines Stendahl’s role in the illegal looting, smuggling and sale of ancient Mesoamerican objects.
- When
- The book was published in 2026. The article was published October 12, 2026.
- Where
- Los Angeles, where the Stendahl Art Galleries sold objects to clients; the gallery archive is now at the Getty Research Institute.
- Why
- The book investigates how cultural heritage was turned into collectible art and how a market for these objects developed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A Chacmool sculpture was discovered at Chichen Itza by Augustus and Alice Le Plongeon.
Man Ray photographed actor Teresa Wright posing beside an ancient Chacmool sculpture.
The Minneapolis Institute of Art bought a “King Chak Mool” for $10,000.
The sculpture toured Europe as part of an exhibition.
A specialist discovered that the sculpture was a forgery.
Artifacts to Art: Collecting Ancient America in Midcentury L.A. was published.
- Book
- Artifacts to Art: Collecting Ancient America in Midcentury L.A.
- Authors
- Andrew D. Turner, Mary E. Miller and Khristaan D. Villela
- Gallery archive
- Stendahl Art Galleries archive, Getty Research Institute
- Purchase
- Minneapolis Institute of Art bought “King Chak Mool” for $10,000 in 1947
- Research
- The authors spent five years researching the archive
Sources
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