Ritual basin (pan) with dragons, fish, tigers, and birds

Object Details

• Description

  Decoration cast in relief but mainly in intaglio. Single character inscription. Green patination with some cuprite in the fossae. Foot dented.

• Inscriptions

  Inscribed on the interior of the basin, Xue 爻(學) (“Education Officer”)

• Provenance

  To 1956

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

  From 1956

  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.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

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

  Ancient Chinese Jades and Bronzes (November 20, 2010 to January 3, 2016)

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

  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, Marble (March 1, 1957 to January 1, 1963)

• Previous custodian or owner

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

• Origin

  Anyang, probably Henan province, China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• 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.

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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

  Bronze, Art, Animals, Sculpture, Chinese Art, Fishes, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE), Birds, Mythological animal, Dragon, Tiger, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)