Vase shaped like an archaic gu

Object Details

• Inscription

  Wang Zifan

• Description

  Vessel in the shape of a Shang dynasty ceremonial "ku;" copper decorated with cloisonne enamels in light blue, dark blue, green, red, yellow, and white; inside the foot is an inscription of eight characters in relief giving a K'ang-hsi date. A separate flower holder fits inside the mouth.

• Inscriptions

  (From the Original Folder Sheet, see Curatorial Remark number 3)

  The inscription inside the foot is cast in seal characters reading from right to left thus: [Chn]

  Transcribed into "k'ai-shu" in the usual order it reads: [Chn], and may be translated "Wang Tzu-fan made [this] in the K'ang-hsi period of the Ch'ing dynasty."

  Transcribed into "k'ai-shu" in the usual order it reads: [Chn], and may be translated "Wang Tzu-fan made [this] in the K'ang-hsi period of the Ch'ing dynasty."

• Label

  During the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), the display of ancient objects as well as contemporary ones made in an archaistic style was considered a sign of learning and refined taste. The shape and decoration of this vase, including the mask-like faces on the base, reproduce aspects of a Bronze Age ritual vessel called a gu.

• Provenance

  To 1911

  Riu Cheng Chai, to 1911 [1]

  From 1911 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Riu Cheng Chai, in 1911 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Summary, Price of Art Objects, Second Chinese Shipment, 1911, pg. 3, No. X57, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Looking Out, Looking In: Art in Late Imperial China (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Gold: The Asian Touch (September 10, 2005 to February 20, 2006)

  Worshipping the Ancestors: Chinese Commemorative Portraits (June 17 to September 9, 2001)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Riu Cheng Chai (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Vessel

• On View

  Freer Gallery 13: Looking Out, Looking In: Art in Late Imperial China

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1720s, 1660s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Riu Cheng Chai

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Kangxi reign (1662 - 1722), Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Cloisonné, Flowers

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes