Square mirror with floral medallion, plant sprays, birds, and insects

Object Details

• Provenance

  From at least 1929 to at least 1938

  Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (1971-1941), New York and "The Chimneys," Sands Point, Port Washington, Long Island, from at least 1929 [1]

  From at least 1944

  Tonying and Company, New York from at least February 1944 [2]

  From 1944

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Tonying and Company, New York on February 7, 1944 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Yamanaka & Company, To-So Seikwa: Select relics of the Tang and Sung Dynasties from the Collections in Europe and America, vol. 2 (Osaka, 1929), pl. 47. According to this source, the mirror reportedly was excavated at Mapo, Luoyang, Henan province. In 1938 Mrs. Holmes lent the mirror to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, see Chinese Bronzes of the Shang (1766-1122 B. C.) through the T’ang Dynasty (A.D. 618-906) (New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, October 19-November 27, 1938), cat. 245 (ill.).

  [2] See Tonying & Company’s invoice, dated February 7, 1944, in which the mirror figures under no. B. 81: “Fine Bronze Mirror, nearly square with rounded corners, decorated with Phoenix, Butterflies, etc. / Tang” copy in object file.

  The acquisition was approved by C. G. Abbot, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, on February 4, 1944, see “List of Objects Contemplated for Purchase by the Freer Gallery of Art,” copy in object file.

  [3] See invoice cited in note 2. See also A. G. Wenley’s letter to C. F. Yau, Tonying & Co., dated February 5, 1944, in which Wenley confirms the purchase of the mirror along with seven other mirrors from the Holmes collection (see records for F1944.3-F1944.7, F1944.9 -F1944.10).

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Center of the World: China and the Silk Road (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Silk Road Exhibition (August 18 to December 25, 2011)

  Silk Road Luxuries from China (November 5, 2011 to January 3, 2016)

  Personal Luxuries in Early China (July 7, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

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

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

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

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

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

  Special Mirror Exhibition (November 16, 1954 to February 25, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1946 (May 7, 1946 to February 25, 1956)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1944 (November 15, 1944 to May 6, 1946)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (1871-1941)

  Tonying and Company 通運公司 (established 1902)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Mirror

• On View

  Freer Gallery 16: Center of the World: China and the Silk Road

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  700s

• Name

  Holmes, Christian R., Tonying and Company

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bronze, Art, Pingtuo, Inlay (process), Sculpture, Chinese Art, Lacquer, Phoenix, Tang dynasty (618 - 907), Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Mirrors

• On View

  Yes