Zither (qin)

Object Details

• Provenance

  To 1915

  Huang Zhonghui (c.1870- after 1923), to 1915 [1]

  1915 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Huang Zhonghui, in New York on December 14, 1915 [2]

  From 1920

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

  Notes:

  [1] See Original Bronze List, S.I. 1383, pg. 163, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives, copy in object file. This sale may have been prompted by Yuan Shikai’s return to power. The purchase documents concerning the qin include an unusual handwritten, countersigned agreement that states, “The above sale was consummated at the time of the ascendency of China’s Imperial Throne by Yuan Shi Ki (Yuan Shikai), and it is understood by the seller and buyer that when a Republican form of Government is reestablished in China, Mr. Hwang [Huang] shall have the right to repurchase the Bronze Musical Instrument at the same price, provided Mr. Freer is alive at that time.” See agreements signed by Charles L. Freer and Huang Zhonghui, dated December 14 and December 16, 1915, copies in object file.

  In his 1915 diary, Freer reports that Huang visited him on Tuesday, December 14, copy in object file.

  [2] See note 1. Freer’s payment dates to December 14, 1915, see copy of payment voucher in object file.

  [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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Huang Zhonghui 黃中慧 (ca. 1870-after 1923) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Musical Instrument

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1640s, 1300s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, Huang, Zhonghui

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Art, Chinese Art, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644)

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Musical instruments