Ritual wine warmer (jiao) with masks (taotie) and dragons

Object Details

• Provenance

  ?-at least 1958

  C. C. Chang, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1958-1959

  J. T. Tai & Co., New York, on consignment from C. C. Chang [2]

  By 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 copy of J. T. Tai & Co., stock record for stock no. CCC-1, described as “1 large bronze Chia.” The vessel was consigned by C. C. Chang of Shanghai to J. T. Tai & Co. on 1/8/58; under C. C. Chang’s name “Then Frank Caro” was written and then crossed out.

  [2] See note 1. 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 note 1. The form records that stock no. CCC-1 was sold to Dr. A. M. Sackler on 1/15/59. Additionally, see object file for copy of J. T. Tai & Co. invoice for stock no. CCC-1 dated 1/15/59, to Dr. Arthur M. Sackler.

  [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. Dr. Arthur M. Sackler was a physician, medical publisher, pharmaceutical marketer, and collector of Asian art.

  Research updated May 22, 2023

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  C. C. Chang

  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., Chang, C. C.

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bronze, Wine and wine making, 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)