Ritual wine container (fangyi) with masks (taotie) and dragons

Object Details

• Description

  Smooth grey to green patina; decorations cast in low relief and intaglio. Inscription of one character inside body near lip.

• Previous custodian or owner

  J.T. Tai & Co. (established in 1950)

• Provenance

  To 1954

  J. T. Tai & Co., New York, New York. [1]

  From 1954

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from J. T. Tai & Co., New York, New York. [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See object file, Collections Management Office.

  [2] See note 1.

• 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

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  J.T. Tai & Co.

• Place

  China, Henan province, Anyang

• Topic

  Art, Chinese Art, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE), Shang dynasty (ca. 1600 - ca. 1050 BCE)

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)

• On View

  Yes