Tripod vessel (li ting)

Object Details

• Description

  Gray pottery vessel in shape of li-ting. Three conical mammiform vessels joined to make the three-footed body. Flat everted rim added and finished with aid of turn-table or slow wheel.

  Clay: earthenware; dark gray on surface; suggestions of carbon deposits and whitish incrustations on exterior of body; earth accretions on interior.

  Decoration: body consolidated with aid of comb-like tool which has left irregular hatching and cross-hatching marks.

• Provenance

  To ?

  J.E. Melchior collection, Shanghai. [1]

  To 1982

  Helen Dalling Ling (d. 1982), Shanghai and Singapore. [2]

  From 1982 to 1984

  Dr. Tien Gi Ling, Singapore, by bequest from his wife, Helen Dalling Ling in May 1982. [3]

  From 1984

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Dr. Tien Gi Ling, Singapore. [4]

  Notes:

  [1] According to Dr. Tien Gi Ling, Mrs. Helen D. Ling acquired the object from the J.E. Melchior Collection in Shanghai. Also see Curatorial Remark 5 in the object record.

  [2] Helen Dalling Ling operated "The Green Dragon" antiques shop in Shanghai from 1938 to 1950 and a shop under her own name in Singapore from 1951 until her death in 1982.

  [3] Helen Dalling Ling left a bequest to her husband, Dr. Tien Gi Ling on May 1982.

  [4] Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920 file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Jacob E. Melchior (died 1945)

  Helen D. Ling (1901-1982)

  Mr. Tien Gi Ling

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s, BCE 1000s

• Name

  Melchior, J. E., Ling, Tien Gi, Ling, Helen D.

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Western Zhou dynasty (ca. 1050 - 771 BCE), Unglazed, Art, Chinese Art, Pottery

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)