Box in the shape of a fish dragon

Object Details

• Description

  The small ceramic box has a lid made of fine, gray porcelain (visible at a chip) with transparent green, yellow and purple enamels. Box in the shape of a Fish Dragon.

• Provenance

  To 1982

  Helen Dalling Ling (1901-1982), Singapore. [1]

  From 1982 to 2004

  Ann S. Ling, Potomac, Maryland, by gift or inheritance from her mother-in-law, Helen Dalling Ling (d. 1982). [2]

  From 2004

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Ann S. Ling, Potomac, Maryland. [3]

  Notes:

  [1] According to Louise Cort, the object was probably collected during the period Helen D. Ling lived in Singapore and operated an antique shop there between 1951 and 1982. See Curatorial Remark 2 in the object record.

  [2] See Curatorial Remarks 1 and 2 in the object record.

  [3] See Acquisition Consideration form, copy in object file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  Freer Study Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Helen D. Ling Collection of Chinese ceramics (January 18 to March 9, 1995)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Helen D. Ling (1901-1982)

  Mrs. Ann S. Ling

• Origin

  Zhangzhou kilns, Fujian province, China

• Credit Line

  Gift of the Ling family from the Helen D. Ling Collection.

• Type

  Container

• 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.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1650s, 1550s

• Name

  Ling, Ann S., Ling, Helen D.

• Place

  China, Zhangzhou kilns, Fujian province

• Topic

  Porcelain, Art, Chinese Art, Fishes, Ceramics, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644), Zhangzhou ware, Dragon

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Containers