Garment hook

Object Details

• Provenance

  By 1934 – possibly 1959

  Reuben David Abraham (1888-1969), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  ?-1959

  Possibly Unidentified Male Collector, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  1959

  Sale, Sotheby’s & Co., London, “Fine Chinese Pottery and Porcelain…” March 17, 1959, Lot 119 [3]

  1959-1960

  J. T. Tai & Company, New York, purchased at Sotheby’s auction [4]

  1960-1987

  Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), purchased from J. T. Tai & Company[5]

  From 1987

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

  Notes:

  [1] See Arthur de C. Sowerby, “The Rhinoceros in China” in The China Journal [journal] Vol. XX No 2. (February 1934), 81. Reuben David “Ruby” Abraham (R. D. Abraham) was a Chinese art collector, real estate broker, businessman, lawyer, and

  leader in the Shanghai Jewish community. The great-great grandson of the successful mercantilist, Sassoon David Sassoon (1832-1867), Abraham’s family resided in China for more than 100 years. In 1914, he became of a member of the North-China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society and was elected councilor in 1924. Abraham actively participated in the Royal Asiatic Society, routinely publishing short essays about objects in his collection and allocating funding for archaeological and ethnographic studies in Northern China. During World War II, Abraham played a major role of resettling Jewish refugees in Shanghai. Shortly after the Chinese Revolution of 1949, the Jewish community of China elected Abraham as the head of the Council of the Jewish Community. While the majority of the Jewish population fled China, those wishing to immigrate to Israel stayed, waiting to secure proper immigration documents from the new Chinese government. Upon the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China, the Shanghai Museum confiscated the majority of Abraham’s collection of Chinese Art, citing it as national treasure. In 1956, Abraham worked with David Marshall (1908-1995) of Singapore to negotiate immigration paperwork for the remaining Jewish population. In November 1956, Abraham left China, relocating to Hong Kong.

  [2] See note 3.

  [3] See Sotheby’s & Co., “Fine Chinese Pottery and Porcelain” [auction catalogue](London, March 17, 1959), lot 119. The catalogue describes the work as “A Very Rare Large Rhinoceros Bronze Belt Hook (tai kou).” The object was offered as part of “The Property of a Gentleman.” The gentleman’s is not known; however, it is possible that the gentleman was R. D. Abraham. A 1917 publication presents another object offered in the Sotheby’s sale property grouping as the property of Abraham. Sotheby’s lot 97, illustrated and described as “A Chinese Scroll-Painting,” appears as No. 9 in R. D. Abraham, “Notes on Chinese Painting with Reproductions from my Collection” [book]. (Shanghai: Kelly Walsh, 1917).

  [4] See note 3. See also insert, “Sotheby’s & Co.’s Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Arts – Prices and Buyers’ Names,” where Sotheby’s identified Tai as the buyer. See also note 5.

  [5] J. T. Tai & Co., Inc. Stock Record YT-3706, Box 10, Folder 3, The J. T. Tai & Company Papers, National Museum of Asian Art Archives, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC. The stock record reports that Tai paid for the object on March 17, 1959 through Sotheby’s.

  Tai Jun Tsei, known as 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 and his wife Pingying Tai (1915-1998) emigrated to New York City with the help of C. T. Loo (1880-1957). Tai established himself as an independent dealer and opened the first of several galleries at 810 Madison Avenue by the autumn of 1950.

  [6] See note 5. Stock Record YT-3706 identifies Arthur M. Sackler as the buyer. Sackler purchased the work on July 15, 1960. Dr. Arthur M. Sackler was a physician, medical publisher, pharmaceutical marketer, and collector of Asian art.

  [7] 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 on May 30, 2024.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Jewelry and Ornament

• 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

  BCE 0s

• Name

  Sackler, Arthur M.

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bronze, Art, Inlay (process), Sculpture, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770 - 221 BCE), Chinese Art, Rhinoceros, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Ornaments, Jewelry