Ritual wine ewer (gong) with masks (taotie), dragons, and real animals

Object Details

• Description

  Ewer with design that incorporates many stylized birds and animals. No inscription.

• Marks

  Stickers and painted inscription on bottom of lid read:

  "K./No 266" (white sticker with red border)

  "266" (round white sticker with black ink)

  Written in red ink on bottom of lid:

  "L.1707.B"

  Written in red ink on bottom of body"

  Written in red ink on bottom of body"

• Provenance

  From at least 1926 to 1961

  Eugene Meyer (1875-1959) and Agnes E. Meyer (1887-1970), Washington, DC, and Mt. Kisco, NY, from at least 1926 [1]

  From 1961

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer in 1961 [2]

  Notes:

  [1] See H. d'Ardenne de Tizac, L'Art Chinois Classique (Paris: Henri Laurens, 1926), p. 25, pls. 6-7.

  [2] See Agnes Meyer's Deed of Gift, dated December 21, 1961, 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)

  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 (June 15, 1982 to September 24, 1982)

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

  Chinese Art (March 9, 1981 to March 12, 1982)

  Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Memorial Exhibition (September 25, 1971 to October 2, 1972)

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

  Ausstellung Chinesischer Kunst (January 12 to April 2, 1929)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer ((1875-1959) and (1887-1970))

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  Meyer, Eugene and Agnes E.

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bronze, Wine and wine making, Art, Animals, Sculpture, Chinese Art, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE), Shang dynasty (ca. 1600 - ca. 1050 BCE), Taotie, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)