Vessel (bianhu) with dragons, tigers, and birds in a landscape

Object Details

• Provenance

  1st century BCE-?

  Hunan Province, Changsha area, China [1]

  ?-possibly at least 1953

  Ownership information unknown

  Possibly at least 1953-?

  Possibly C. T. Loo Chinese Art (active 1953-1961), New York, NY, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  Possibly at least 1953-?

  Possibly C. T. Loo & Cie., Art Ancien de Chine (active 1953-2011), Paris, France, method of acquisition unknown [3]

  Possibly at least 1968-1987

  Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), possibly purchased from C. T. Loo Chinese Art [4]

  Possibly at least 1968-1987

  Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), possibly purchased from C. T. Loo & Cie., Art Ancien de Chine [5]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Arthur M. Sackler [6]

  Notes:

  [1] See Jan Fontein and Tung Wu, “Unearthing China’s Past,” [exhibition catalogue] (Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1973), pp. 119-124, cat. 55, ill. Object is described as being in “The Sackler Collection.”

  [2] See Arthur M. Sackler inventory sheet, copy in object file. The initials "CTL” are listed under Dealer’s number

  on the inventory sheet and probably the initial for the dealer, C. T. Loo (1880-1957). Loo owned galleries in New York, NY and in Paris France, both of which were established in 1953.

  C. T. Loo (1880-1957) was one of the most prominent and well-known figures in the world of Chinese art. Loo owned and operated eponymous galleries in New York and Paris, where he offered Chinese, Indian, and South Asian antiquities for study and sale. On September 1, 1952, Loo’s associate, Frank Caro (1904-1980) took over daily operations of the New York business. Loo continued to play a large role in the business, as he and Caro struck a deal in which profits made on Loo’s stock would be evenly divided and Loo would maintain the lease and rental payments on the company’s gallery space. In 1961, Loo and Caro’s agreement ended. C. T. Loo & Cie., Paris, France took control of C. T. Loo Chinese Art, New York’s stock that C. T. Loo had added to the inventory before his death in 1957. Caro then opened Frank Caro Chinese Art. Caro acquired pieces from Loo’s original stock (the mode of acquisition is unknown). In 1980, Frank Caro Chinese Art ceased operations following Caro’s death.

  [3] See note 2.

  [4] See note 2.

  See also Robert Poor, “Bronze Ritual Vessels of Ancient China” [slide lecture] (International Arts Press, New York City, 1968, slide number 1-9-8. Dr. Arthur M. Sackler was a physician, medical publisher, pharmaceutical marketer, and collector of Asian art.

  [5] See note 2 and 4.

  [6] Pursuant to the agreement between Arthur M. Sackler and the Smithsonian Institution, dated July 28, 1982, legal title of the donated objects was transferred to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on September 11, 1987.

  Research updated July 7, 2023

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Sensuous and the Sacred: Chola Bronzes from South India (November 10, 2002 to March 9, 2003)

  Untitled Exhibition: Rijksmuseum (November 7, 2002 to May 13, 2003)

  Monsters, Myths and Minerals (September 28, 1987 to November 26, 1995)

  Treasures from the Smithsonian Institution at the Royal Scottish Museum (August 11, 1984 to November 5, 1984)

  Unearthing China's Past (November 15, 1973 to February 15, 1974)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Possibly C.T. Loo Chinese Art (1953-1961)

  Possibly C.T. Loo & Cie, Art Ancien de Chine (ca. 1950-2011)

  C. T. Loo 盧芹齋 (1880-1957)

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Origin

  Possibly Hunan province, China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s

• Name

  Loo, C. T., Sackler, Arthur M., C.T. Loo Chinese Art, C.T. Loo & Cie, Art Ancien de Chine

• Place

  Hunan province, China

• Topic

  Bronze, Art, Sculpture, Chinese Art, Western Han dynasty (206 BCE - 9 CE), Dragon, Tiger, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)