Tapestry (kesi) of peonies and other flowers

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    960-1279
  • Geography

    China
  • Material

    Kesi tapestry woven with polychrome silk threads
  • Dimension

    H x W (image): 86.8 × 37.5 cm (34 3/16 × 14 3/4 in)
  • Accession Number

    F1915.4
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_F1915.4

Object Details

  • Provenance

    To 1915
    Abel William Bahr (1877-1959), London, to 1915 [1]
    From 1915 to 1919
    Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Abel William Bahr, London, in 1915 [2]
    From 1920
    The Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
    Notes:
    [1] See Original Kakemono and Makimono List, L. 951, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Abel William Bahr (1877-1959) was a collector and dealer born in Shanghai, China. After he left Shanghai in 1910, he lived, at various points in time, in London, Montreal, and Ridgefield, Connecticut. He established a gallery in New York City in 1920.
    This object exhibits seals, colophons, or inscriptions that could provide additional information regarding the object’s history; see Curatorial Remarks in the object record for further details.
    [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

    Setting the Bar: Arts of the Song dynasty (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)
    Chinese Flower Paintings (March 18 to September 22, 1983)
    Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)
    Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1947 (October 13, 1947 to May 26, 1953)
    Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1946 (May 6, 1946 to November 17, 1955)
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Abel William Bahr (1877-1959) (C.L. Freer source)
    Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
  • Origin

    China
  • Credit Line

    Gift of Charles Lang Freer
  • Type

    Costume and Textile
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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