One-tier tube (cong 琮) with masks

Object Details

• Description

  Tubular ring with four angles slightly projecting, a variation of the type ts'ung [cong] 琮, possibly a bracelet; translucent, mottled creams, browns, and traces of gray green; light sprinklings of incipient disintegration; decoration: channeled and in low relief; four rectangles with t'ao-t'ieh [taotie] 饕餮 masks carved in two planes and meeting in center of face. (Rims have old smoothed breaks.)

  Acquired with a box, now lost.

• Provenance

  Reportedly excavated in Shensi [1]

  From 1897

  Wu Dacheng (1835-1902), acquired in 1897 [2]

  To 1917

  You Xiaoxi (late 19th-early 20th century), Shanghai, to 1917 [3]

  From 1917 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from You Xiaoxi in 1917 [4]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [5]

  Notes:

  [1] Curatorial Remark 1 in the object record states: "Said to have been excavated in Shensi and acquired by Wu Ta-ch'eng in 1897."

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] See Original Miscellaneous List, S.I. 1324, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

  [4] See note 3.

  [5] 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

  Afterlife: Ancient Chinese Jades (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Ancient Chinese Jades and Bronzes (November 20, 2010 to January 3, 2016)

  Ancient Chinese Jade (September 4, 1980 to March 6, 1981)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Wu Dacheng 吳大澂 (1835-1902)

  You Xiaoxi 游篠溪 (late 19th-early 20th century) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Lake Tai region, China

• Culture

  Liangzhu culture, ca. 3300-ca. 2250 BCE

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Ceremonial Object

• On View

  Freer Gallery 19: Afterlife: Ancient Chinese Jades

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 2000s, BCE 3000s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, You, Xiaoxi, Wu, Dacheng

• Place

  Lake Tai region, China

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Late Neolithic period (ca. 5000 - ca. 1700 BCE), Chinese Art, Nephrite, Jade

• Culture

  Chinese, Liangzhu culture

• Object Type

  Ceremonial objects

• On View

  Yes