Ritual grain server (yu) with masks (taotie), dragons, and cicadas.

Object Details

• Description

  Ceremonial vessel, type gui. Fairly even gray-green patina inside and out; malachite and azurite incrustation on the bottom. Cast inscription of two characters.

• Inscriptions

  Inscribed on the bottom of the interior, Yi Che 亦 (掖?) 車 (“Yi-Chariot Officer”)

• Provenance

  In 1941

  C. T. Loo & Company, New York from April 1941 [1]

  From 1941

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from C. T. Loo & Company on June 18, 1941 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See C. T. Loo's stockcard no. 87101: "Bronze vessel. Kuei. decorated around foot and neck with bands of running dragons separated by flanges. and a register of triangles with cicadas in relief under the rim on the body broad t'ao t'ieh masks. All motives [?] with spirals. deeply carved spiral background. Grey green patina. Inscribed. Shang," C. T. Loo & Frank Caro Archive, Musée Guimet, Paris, copy in object file. The object was brought by Loo to the Freer Gallery for examination on April 29, 1941.

  [2] See C. T. Loo's invoice, dated June 18, 1941, copy in object file.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings (February 25, 2023 to April 28, 2024)

  Ancient Chinese Bronzes (May 9, 1993 to February 10, 1997)

  Chinese Art (February 18, 1983 to April 1, 1987)

  Chinese Art (June 15, 1982 to September 24, 1982)

  Chinese Art (March 15, 1982 to June 15, 1982)

  Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)

  Chinese Bronze, Jade, Marble (March 1, 1957 to January 1, 1963)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 14 and 15 (February 25, 1956 to March 1, 1957)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1955 (October 24, 1955 to February 25, 1956)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Jade and Bronze (August 26, 1955 to October 25, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1945 (January 9, 1945 to August 20, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1944 (December 13, 1944 to May 7, 1946)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Metalwork, 1943 (March 22, 1943 to December 13, 1944)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Metalwork (March 14, 1931 to March 22, 1943)

• Previous custodian or owner

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

• Origin

  Anyang, probably Henan province, China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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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

  Bronze, Art, Sculpture, Chinese Art, Grain, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE), Masks, Dragon, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)