Vessel with two handles in the form of a bull with horns

Object Details

• Provenance

  ?-by 1989

  Probably Joseph Rondina (1927-2022), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  By 1989-1990

  John W. Callahan (d. 1990), probably purchased from Joseph Rondina [2]

  1990-1998

  Estate of John W. Callahan [3]

  From 1998

  Freer Gallery of Art, Freer Study Collection, gift from the Estate of John W. Callahan [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See memo from the Curator of Ceramics to Milo Beach and the Deputy Director, dated July 7, 1998, copy in object file. In the memo, the Curator of Ceramics says, “Purchased by Robert Sistrunk 1975 from Joseph Rondina, who acquired it from Far Eastern Arts (Mr. Steven Gano), New York, ca. 1974-.” In July 1989, John W. Callahan offered this object and eight other pots to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of Art. After seeing the objects, the Curator of Ceramics became interested in acquiring them. Mr. Callahan died in March 1990 and left his estate to Peter Miccuci of New York, NY.

  See also the report titled “Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Department of Conservation and Scientific Research Report,” dated May 25, 1992, number RLS1991.7.6 and LRN 1762, copy in object file. In 1992, the museum received permission from Peter Miccuci to conduct thermoluminescence testing on this object. The test results indicated that this object was fired after 1898. As a result, the object was offered as a gift to the Freer Study Collection, instead of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of Art.

  Joseph Rondina (1927-2022) was a New York antiques dealer that focused on European, Chinese, Korean and Japanese furniture, and objet d'art. Rondina served in World War II with the U.S. Army Occupation Forces stationed in Berlin, Germany, which sparked Rodina’s interest in art and history. Rodina then went to graduate from the Whitman School of Design in New York, NY and in opened Joseph F. Rondina Antiques Ltd. at East 62nd St. at Madison Avenue.

  [2] See note 1.

  John W. Callahan (d. 1990) was a curator and collector of Asian art in New York, NY. In 1986, Mr. Callahan and Robert Sistrunk co-curated the exhibition “Lotus are Blooming” at the Wave Hill House Gallery in Bronx, New York, NY.

  [3] See note 1.

  [4] See Deed of Gift to the Freer Gallery of Art, dated September 2, 1998. Although John W. Callahan and his associate Robert Sistrunk (1937-1986) had passed away prior to the date of accession, the credit line for this object is “Gift of Robert James Sistrunk and John Callahan.”

  Research Updated December 13, 2022

• Collection

  Freer Study Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Joseph Rondina (1927-2022)

  John W. Callahan (died 1990)

  Estate of John W. Callahan

• Origin

  Thailand

• Credit Line

  Gift of Robert James Sistrunk and John Callahan

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1890s

• Name

  Callahan, John W., Rondina, Joseph, Estate of John W. Callahan

• Place

  Thailand

• Topic

  Art, Bulls, Southeast Asian Art, Ceramics

• Culture

  Southeast Asians

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)