Ritual wine cup (gu) with dragons

Object Details

• Inscriptions

  Inscribed in the foot, Bao 保 (Official title composed of an adult cradling a small child, meaning “Guardian”; responsible for the training and education of young princes)

• Provenance

  ?- 1956

  Dr. Paul Singer (1904-1997), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1956-1959

  J. T. Tai & Co., New York, purchased by J. T. Tai & Co., New York [2]

  1959-1987

  Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), purchased from J. T. Tai & Co., New York [3]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Arthur M. Sackler [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See object file for J. T. Tai & Co. stock record for stock no. YT-2654, described as “1 Bronze Ku, Shang Dyn.” The record shows that Tai purchased the object from Dr. Paul Singer on 12/11/1956. Dr. Paul Singer was a collector of Chinese art and a neuropsychiatrist active in New York.

  [2] See note 1. Tai sold stock no. YT-2654 to Dr. A. Sackler on 7/16/1959.

  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.

  [3] See object file for copy of J. T. Tai & Co. invoice to Arthur M. Sackler, dated July 15, 1959, for stock no. YT-2654. Dr. Arthur M. Sackler was a physician, medical publisher, pharmaceutical marketer, and collector of Asian art.

  [4] 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 June 22, 2023

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings (February 25, 2023 to April 28, 2024)

  Ancient Chinese Bronzes and Jades (October 1, 1989 - September 10, 1990)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Dr. Paul Singer (1904-1997)

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

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Origin

  Anyang, probably Henan province, China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  Singer, Paul, Sackler, Arthur M., J. T. Tai & Co.

• Place

  China, Henan province, Anyang

• Topic

  Bronze, Art, Sculpture, Chinese Art, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE), Shang dynasty (ca. 1600 - ca. 1050 BCE), Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)