Ritual wine container (lei) with masks (taoti) and dragons

Object Details

• Provenance

  ?-1955

  Owen F. Roberts (ca.1873-1955), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  ?-1955

  J. T. Tai & Co., New York, purchased from Owen F. Roberts, possibly through C. T. Loo, INC., New York [3]

  By 1959-1987

  Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), purchased from J. T. Tai & Co., New York [4]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Arthur M. Sackler [5]

  Notes:

  [1] See object file for copy of J. T. Tai & Co. stock record no. YT 1484, where object is described as ‘1 Bronze “Tsun” mask design’, purchased 3/1/55 from O. F. Roberts (Loo).’ Owen F. Roberts was a New York stockbroker and collector of Chinese works of art. He had a sale at American Art Galleries on 12 January 1928, for 628 lots including "Chinese jades, potteries, crystals, porcelains and textiles." In 1927 he lent some early Chinese frescoes to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and three pieces from his collection were in the Whitridge Collection in 1939.

  [2] See note 1. On September 1, 1952, C. T. Loo’s associate, Frank Caro (1904-1980) took over daily operations of the New York business. C. T. Loo, INC. was dissolved by the summer of 1953 and Caro operated as C. T. Loo Chinese Art. 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. About 1950, Caro assigned new inventory numbers to C. T. Loo & Company’s stock, assigning numbers with an “E” prefix.

  [3] See note 1. The Tai stock record notes that the object was sold to “Dr. A. Sackler 7/16/59”. This is written in the Sales Record portion of the stock record.

  [4] See object file for copy of J. T. Tai & Co. invoice to Dr. Arthur M. Sackler dated 7/15/59, for “1 bronze tsun” stock no. YT 1484. J. T. Tai (1911-1992), was an incredibly important dealer in Chinese antiquities whose influence shaped American collections of Chinese art throughout the second half of the twentieth century. He began his career in China, and in early 1950 he emigrated to New York City with the help of C. T. Loo (1880-1957). Tai established himself as an independent dealer and opened a gallery on Madison Avenue by the autumn of 1950. See also note 1, which notes that the object was sold to Dr. A. Sackler 7/16/59; the reason for the discrepancy in the July date, by one day, is not known.

  [5] 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. Dr. Arthur M. Sackler was a physician, medical publisher, pharmaceutical marketer, and collector of Asian art. See also note 1.

  Research updated June 7, 2023

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Arts of China (November 18, 1990 to September 7, 2014)

  Chinese Bronzes from the Sackler Collection (November 19 to December 30, 1989)

  In Praise of Ancestors: Ritual Objects from China (September 28, 1987 to January 1, 1989)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Owen F Roberts (1873-1955)

  C.T. Loo, INC. (ca. 1948-no later than July 1953)

  J. T. Tai & Co. (established in 1950)

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Origin

  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 1000s

• Name

  Sackler, Arthur M., J. T. Tai & Co., Roberts, Owen F, C.T. Loo, INC.

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bronze, Wine and wine making, Art, Sculpture, Chinese Art, Shang dynasty (ca. 1600 - ca. 1050 BCE), Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)