Ritual cauldron (ding) with masks (taotie) and cicadas

Object Details

• Description

  Ceremonial vessel, type ding. Light grayish green patina with some incrustation. Areas of malachite, azurite, and cuprite inside. Decorated with casting in intaglio and relief. Inscription.

• Inscriptions

  1. (From original folder sheet note 2) (A.G.W., 1947) This ting [chn] tripodal vessel is of unusually fine quality for one of its type and shape. The decoration, particularly the cicada patterns, and the so-called t'ao-t'iah masks with arms terminating in claws are typical of Shang dynasty design. The inscription on the bottom of the vessel inside appears to be a monogram composed of 3 characters and may be read [chn] [chn] [chn] chou ya chou. Possibly the repetition of the characters chou [chn] on either side of the ya [chn] character may have been done with a view to symmetry. If this be the case, the inscription might possibly be rendered "Chou of the Ya [nobility]." In any case it probably represents the name of the person or family for whom the vessel was made. The use of 2 or more characters so connected as to form a monogram is well recognized.

• Provenance

  From 1941 to 1946

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

  From 1946

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from C. T. Loo & Company on October 31, 1946 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See C. T. Loo's stockcard no. 87095: "Bronze tripod CHOU / Large vessel Ting with two upright handles and on three straight legs.

  Decorated under the rim by a band of t'ao tieh mask on a spiral ground.

  On the body a band of triangles with cicadas in relief.

  Legs ornated with stylized cicadas.

  Green patina. Inscribed. Shang," C. T. Loo & Frank Caro Archive, Musée Guimet, Paris, copy in object file.

  The object was offered to two American collectors, first to "Mr. Booth" and then to Alfred F. Pillsbury in 1941, but was subsequently returned to Loo.

  In 1943 the vessel was brought to the Freer Gallery and was returned to Loo after two months.

  On January 30, 1945, the vessel was sent again to the Freer Gallery.

  [2] See C. T. Loo's invoice, dated October 31, 1946, 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)

  Clay and Metal: Ancient Chinese Ceramics and Metal (February 25, 1997 to August 9, 2011)

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

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

  Chinese Art (June 15, 1982 to September 24, 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 Jade and Bronze (August 26, 1955 to October 25, 1955)

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

  Special Exhibition, Chinese Art (April 20, 1954 to November 16, 1954)

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

• 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, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE), Cicada, Masks, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)