Head of a single shaft hairpin modeled as a flying celestial being (feitian), one of two with F1946.20

Object Details

• Description

  Head of single shaft hairpin (one of two, with F1946.20) modeled as a flying celestial ( eitian) in gold. Modeled in the round, figure in a flying position with outstretched legs, wearing flowing robes, floating scarves and jewelled streamers. With an elaborate beribboned, decorated headdress; flowers around the necks; arms with braclets at the wrists and hands extended in front of the face holding a lotus flower; ears pierced for earrings; each figure supported by an intricate filigree cloud pattern. Dotted texturing on the gold. Evidence of the broken shaft of a hairpin below the clouds.

• Provenance

  To 1946

  Tonying and Company, Inc., New York to 1946. [1]

  From 1946

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Tonying and Company, Inc., New York in 1946. [2]

  Notes:

  [1] Curatorial Remark 1 in the object record. For more information, see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List file, Collections Management Office.

  [2] See note 1.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Luxury Arts of the Silk Route Empires (May 9, 1993 to January 28, 2007)

  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)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Metalwork and Painting, East Corridor (February 15, 1955 to August 26, 1955)

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

  Special Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1946 (August 7, 1946 to January 7, 1947)

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Tonying and Company 通運公司 (established 1902)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Jewelry and Ornament

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1200s, 1300s

• Name

  Tonying and Company

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Hammering, Gold, Art, Chinese Art, Yuan dynasty (1279 - 1368), Chasing, Piercing, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese, Apsarases

• Object Type

  Ornaments, Jewelry