Ritual wine container (zun) in the form of an animal

Object Details

• Provenance

  ?-1914

  Possibly Unidentified individual, Tianjin, China, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  ?-1914

  Possibly Yamanaka & Co. (active 1917-1965), New York, NY, method of acquisition unknown in China [2]

  1914

  Sale, New York, NY, American Art Galleries, "A Remarkable Collection of Ancient Chinese Art," January 29, 1914, lot 179 [3]

  1914-?

  Ownership information unknown

  ?-1957

  Unidentified individual, New York [4]

  1957

  Sale, New York, NY, Parke-Bernet Galleries, “Important Oriental Art,” March 1, 1957, lot 156 [5]

  1957-at least 1968

  Ownership information unknown

  At least 1968-1987

  Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), method of acquisition unknown [6]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Arthur M. Sackler [7]

  Notes:

  [1] See “Illustrated catalogue of the remarkable collection of ancient Chinese bronzes, beautiful old porcelains, amber and stone carvings sumptuous eighteenth century brocades interesting old paintings on glass and fine old carpets, rugs and furniture, from ancient palaces and temples of China comprising the private collection of a Chinese nobleman of Tien-Tsin and objects procured by the senior members of Yamanaka & Co. and his staff during a recent visit to ancient cities of China, [...],” (New York: American Art Association, 1914), lot 179, illustrated on frontispiece (color). Object is described as “Extraordinary Antique Bronze Ritual Vessel (Shang).” Object is illustrated with a carved stand and a modern gold cover.

  [2] See note 1.

  Yamanaka & Co. 山中商会, Inc. (active 1917-1965) was one of the largest Asian art dealers during the first half of the 20th century. The company’s clients included art collecting giants such as the Rockefeller family, Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924), Ernest Fenollosa (1853-1908), Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), Louisine Havemeyer (1855-1929), and Osvald Sirén (1879-1966). Yamanaka & Company brought antiquities predominantly from China, Japan, and Korea, but also sold South and Southeast Asian works. The company was a family business that was initially based in Osaka, Japan; it became a shareholding corporation with multiple galleries/showrooms. In 1895, Yamanaka Sadajirō 山中定次郎 (1866-1936) established the first gallery outside of Japan when he opened the New York, NY branch. Yamanaka & Company also maintained branch offices, at various times, in Boston, Chicago, London, Peking (now Beijing), Shanghai, Nara, and Kyoto. During the summer, the company also maintained seasonal locations in Newport, RI; Bar Harbor, ME; and Atlantic City, NJ. Following the United States' entrance into World War II, the federal government through the Alien Property Custodian, seized the North American Yamanaka galleries and liquidated their inventory via auction. Objects from the Yamanaka & Company may now be found in museums around the world, including the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the Seattle Art Museum.

  [3] See note 1.

  [4] See Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., “Important Oriental Art” [auction catalogue], (New York: Parke-Bernet Galleries, March 1, 1957), lot 156, illustrated (black and white). Object is described as “Very Important Bronze Animalistic Ritual Bronze Vessel Middle Chou.” The seller is described as “N. Y. Private Owner.” The sales catalogue also notes that the object was “Exhibited at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, c. 1945 -50.” The object is illustrated in black and white with a “carved a teakwood cover and stand,” however, both the stand and cover appear to be the stand and modern gold cover that were illustrated in the 1914 Yamanaka sale (see note 1).

  [5] See note 4.

  [6] See Robert Poor, “Bronze Ritual Vessels of Ancient China” [slide lecture] (International Arts Press, New York City), 1968, slide number 1-3-21.

  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 August 3, 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

  Yamanaka and Co. 山中商会 (1917-1965)

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Origin

  Possibly Shaanxi 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 0s, BCE 1000s

• Name

  Sackler, Arthur M., Yamanaka and Co.

• Place

  Shaanxi province, China

• Topic

  Bronze, Wine and wine making, Western Zhou dynasty (ca. 1050 - 771 BCE), Art, Sculpture, Chinese Art, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)