Ritual wine ewer (gong) in the form of a tiger, owl, and water bird

Object Details

• Description

  Ceremonial covered vessel, type kuang. Smooth, soft green patina with scattered incrustations outside and in; criss-cross mold-impression on the bottom; cast inscription of 2 characters inside cover and vessel.

• Previous custodian or owner

  C.T. Loo & Company (1914-1948)

• Provenance

  From at least 1937 to 1938

  C. T. Loo & Company, Paris and New York from at least August 30, 1937 [1]

  From 1938

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from C. T. Loo & Company, New York on February 4, 1938 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See "List of objects owned by C. T. Loo & Co., New York [and sent to] the Gallery for examination," copy in object file. According to an annotation on the list, the vessel was received from Paris on August 30, 1937.

  [2] See C. T. Loo's invoice, dated January 17, 1938, with an annotation that it was passed for payment on February 4, 1938. The invoice was issued by C. T. Loo's New York gallery.

• Origin

  Anyang, probably Henan province, China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• On View

  Sackler Gallery 23b: Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  C.T. Loo & Company

• Place

  China, Henan province, Anyang

• Topic

  Wine and wine making, Art, Animals, Chinese Art, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE), Birds, Tiger

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes