Ritual wine container (fanghu) with interlaced dragons

Object Details

• Provenance

  At least 1929-?

  Charles Vignier (1863-1932), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  ?-at least 1954

  Michon collection, France, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  At least 1954-?

  Michon et Mahé, Paris, France, method of acquisition unknown probably from the Michon collection [3]

  ?-?

  Probably Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes (1917-2021), Paris France, method of acquisition unknown [4]

  At least 1968-1987

  Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), possibly acquired from probably Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes [5]

  From 1987

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

  Notes:

  [1] See Osvald Siren, “A History of early Chinese Art,” vol. 1, (1929), plate 54. Described as “Bronze vase (hu) Ch. Vignier Coll.” This object is one of a pair owned by Charles Vignier in Paris, France. The other vessel is now in the collection of the Musée Guimet in Paris (MA 50).

  See also Jenny So, “Eastern Zhou Ritual Bronzes from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections: Volume III” (Arthur M. Sackler Foundation in association with the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, 1995), cat. 37, pp. 210-211.

  Charles Vignier (1863-1932) was a symbolist poet, collector, and dealer in Paris, France. As a dealer, he was active between the early 1910s and 1930s and specialized in Chinese, Japanese, Persian, South Asian, and African art. Born in Geneva, Switzerland, Vignier relocated to Paris in 1882 to make a career as a writer. While in Paris he became a part of the avant-garde circle, befriending the young Matisse. In the early 1910s, Vignier, at first modestly, established himself as a dealer along the rue Lafitte and then on rue Lamennais and specialized in Japanese art. His interest then shifted to Chinese painting and sculpture, followed by Persian and Syrian pottery. During the final period of his life – between 1920s and 1930s – Vignier was active as an expert at Hôtel Drouot and his primary focus was Chinese bronzes.

  [2] See Georges Salles, “Bronzes Chinois des Dynasties Tcheou, T'sin & Han” [exhibition catalogue], (Paris: Musée de l'Orangerie, 1934), cat. 282, fig. 18. Object is described as “Vase A Vin (Hou) Sur Pied Carré (Une Paire).” The lender is identified as “Collection Michon.”

  [3] See Jean Pierre Dubosc, “Mostra d'arte Cinese: Catalogo” [exhibition catalogue], (Venezia: Alfieri Editore, 1954), cat. 58, ill. Object is described as “Hu with Cover.” The lender is described as “MM. Michon et Mahé, Paris.” See also advertisement for “Michon & Mahé [/] Art ancient d’Extrême Orient” in the exhibition catalogue (unpaginated).

  See also “Trade News” from “The Connoisseur” [magazine], (New York: Hearst Magazine Media, Inc., January 1, 1954), p. 258, ill. Object is described as “Bronze wine jar (hou), […] René Michon, Paris.”

  Michon et Mahé (active ca. 1950s-ca. 1960s) was located at 156, Boulevard Haussmann in Paris, France, and specialized in ancient art from the East Asia. The managing partners were René Michon (d. February 4, 1958) and Jean Mahé (active ca. 1940s-ca. 1960s or 1970s). By 1962, Mahé had established an eponymous gallery specializing in Chinese, Indonesian, and Indian art at 156, Boulevard Haussmann.

  [4] See copy of Arthur M. Sackler inventory sheet, copy in object file. The Dealer’s Number is recorded as “Rousset,” which probably refers to Robert Rousset (1901-1982) or Jean-Pierre Rousset (1936-2021) of the Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes in Paris, France.

  See also Bonhams, France, “La Collection Robert & Jean-Pierre Rousset d’Art Asiatique: Un Siècle d’Histoire” [auction catalogue], (Paris, France: Bonhams, October 25-26, 2022), p. 29. Arthur M. Sackler is cited as a client of the Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes.

  Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes in Paris, France was first established in 1917 at 14 Rue de Castiglione by the brothers Pierre and Serge Blazy. Around 1929, Robert Rousset (1901-1982) and Georges Vibert purchased the Compagnie from the Blazy brothers, and they relocated the shop to their iconic location at 39 Avenue de Friedland, near the Arc de Triomphe. Under the management of Robert Rousset and his nephew Jean-Pierre Rousset (1936-2021), the company specialized in high-quality sculptures from Cambodia, China, Japan, India, Gandhara and Southeast Asia; Chinese huanghuali furniture; and traditional and modern Chinese paintings. Robert acquired many objects in Asia and the quality and scale of the Compagnie’s stock and their four-story shop was comparable to that of the dealer C. T. Loo (1880-1957). Robert briefly moved to New York between 1959 and 1962 due to fears of communism after the Second World War and he opened the "Arts of Asia" gallery near the Fuller Building. Clients included John D. Rockefeller III (1906-1978), Henry Najer (1924-2007), Georges Halphen (1913-2003), Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), Lionel Fournier (1943-2017), and Otto Burchard (1892-1965).

  Robert Rousset’s interest in Asia art came from his father Louis Rousset (1878-1929), who in 1912 opened a gallery called "Antiquités d'Orient, Art Bouddhique, L. Rousset,” located at 13, rue des Arquebusiers in Paris in 1920.

  Robert had first joined the French merchant marines at the age of 17, which allowed him to voyage in 1919 to Benares, Angkor, and Beijing. In Beijing, Robert met Osvald Sirèn (1879-1966), which marked a turning point for Robert, and, in 1924, he abandoned the Navy to pursue a career in the Asian art trade. After Robert acquired the Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes from the Blazy brothers (around 1929), his sister Suzanne Rousset (1906-1995) and younger brother Léon Rousset (1903-1994) joined the Compagnie. Léon soon left to pursue other interests; however, Suzanne remained as a manager for the Compagnie until her death. Jean-Pierre joined the Compagnie in 1960 and managed it until his death. Jean-Pierre’s son, Mike Winter-Rousset, and his nephews, Laurence and Hervé du Peuty, managed the Compagnie from 1982 until Winter-Rousset’s retirement in 2021.

  [5] See Robert Poor, “Bronze Ritual Vessels of Ancient China” [slide lecture] (International Arts Press, New York City, 1968), slide number, 1-6-21 Dr. Arthur M. Sackler was a physician, medical publisher, pharmaceutical marketer, and collector of Asian art.

  [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 August 4, 2023

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

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

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Charles Vignier (1863-1934)

  Michon collection

  Michon et Mahé (active ca. 1950s-ca. 1960s)

  Probably Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes (active 1917-2021)

  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 0s

• Name

  Sackler, Arthur M., Michon et Mahé, Vignier, Charles, Compagnie de la Chine et des Indes, Michon collection

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bronze, Wine and wine making, Art, Sculpture, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770 - 221 BCE), Chinese Art, Dragon, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)