Wine Container (you) with masks (taotie), dragons, and birds

Object Details

• Provenance

  At least 1839-?

  Cao Zaikui 曹載奎 (1782-1852), method of acquisition unknown [1]

  ?-?

  Possibly C. T. Loo Chinese Art (active 1953-1961), New York, NY, method of acquisition unknown [2]

  ?-?

  Possibly C. T. Loo & Cie., Art Ancien de Chine (active 1953-2011), Paris, France, method of acquisition unknown [3]

  ?-November 27, 1973

  Edward G. Robinson (1893-1973), method of acquisition unknown [4]

  November 27, 1973

  Sale, London, England, Sotheby’s, “Archaic Bronzes, Works of Art, Early Ceramics, Ming porcelain, Ch'ing Porcelain, Ming and Manchu Monochromes,” November 27, 1973, lot 8 [5]

  November 27, 1973-December 20, 1975

  J. T. Tai & Co., Inc., New York, NY, purchased at November 27, 1973, Sotheby’s sale, London, England [6]

  December 20, 1975-1987

  The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, purchased from J. T. Tai & Co., Inc. [7]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation [8]

  Notes:

  [1] See Cao Zaikui 曹載奎, “Huai mi shan fang ji jin tu 懷米山房吉金圖” vol. 1, (China: s.n., 1839), 1.26.

  Cao Zaikui 曹載奎 (1782-1852) was a Qing Dynasty connoisseur and collector of ancient Chinese bronzes in Suzhou, Chinese. The full scope of Cao’s collection of bronzes is not known, however, sixty works were included in his personal catalogue “Huai mi shan fang ji jin tu 懷米山房吉金圖” (“The Illustration of Bronzes in Huai Mi Mountain House”) produced in 1839. Only two copies of the catalogue made during Cao’s lifetime have survived and are now at the Academia Sinica in Taipei and at the Hong Kong University. Cao’s bronze collection was known for its quality and later collectors and scholars sought out works from his collection following its dispersal after Cao’s death. Cao also collected paintings, calligraphy, jades, decorative stones, porcelains, and furniture.

  [2] See Arthur M. Sackler inventory sheet, copy in object file. The provenance for this object is described as, “Provenance (Ex-Collection): Ts’ao Tsai-k’uei (1782-1952), C. T. Loo (1880-1957), Edward G. Robinson.”

  C. T. Loo (1880-1957) was one of the most prominent and well-known figures in the world of Chinese art. Loo owned and operated eponymous galleries in New York and Paris, where he offered Chinese, Indian, and South Asian antiquities for study and sale. On September 1, 1952, Loo’s associate, Frank Caro (1904-1980) took over daily operations of the New York business. Loo continued to play a large role in the business, as he and Caro struck a deal in which profits made on Loo’s stock would be evenly divided and Loo would maintain the lease and rental payments on the company’s gallery space. In 1961, Loo and Caro’s agreement ended. C. T. Loo & Cie., Paris, France took control of C. T. Loo Chinese Art, New York’s stock that C. T. Loo had added to the inventory before his death in 1957. Caro then opened Frank Caro Chinese Art. Caro acquired pieces from Loo’s original stock (the mode of acquisition is unknown). In 1980, Frank Caro Chinese Art ceased operations following Caro’s death.

  [3] See note 2.

  [4] See Sotheby’s, “Catalogue of Archaic Bronzes, Works of Art, Early Ceramics, Ming porcelain, Ch'ing Porcelain, Ming and Manchu Monochromes” [auction catalogue], (London: Sotheby’s, November 27, 1973), lot 8, ill. Object is described as “A fine archaic bronze wine vessel (yu).” The seller is listed as “From the Edward G. Robinson Collection [/] (Sold by Order of the Present Owner).” The price lists indicates that the buyer was as individual named “Vanghan.”

  Edward G. Robinson (1893-1973), born Emanuel Goldenberg, was a Romanian-born film, television, and stage actor active between 1913 and 1973. Best known for his portrayals of gangsters in such films as “Little Caesar” (1931), Robinson was also an avid art collector. Robinson began collecting a few years prior to starring in “Little Caesar,” purchasing an anonymous painting of a cow for a few dollars. His collection primarily focused of Western painting and sculpture by artists such as Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Vincent van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Pablo Picasso, Frida Khalo, and Grant Wood. On a smaller scale, Robinson collected African and Asian art. Robinson’s personal archives is now at Boston University.

  [5] See note 3.

  [6] See J. T. Tai & Co., Inc. stock record number YT 5607, copy in object file.

  See also invoice from J. T. Tai & Co., Inc., dated May 12, 1975, dealer number YT 5607, copy in object file. Object is described as “One Bronze Yu with Cover. Mask design. Handle with animal head. Green patina with inscription in the cover and the base.”

  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 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.

  [7] See note 6.

  [8] See “Deed of Gift to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution,” dated January 1995, copy in object file. Pursuant to the agreement between The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution, dated January 23, 1995, legal title of the donated objects was transferred to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation was founded in 1965 by Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, to make available for study the holdings of the Arthur M. Sackler Collections.

  Research updated November 28, 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

  Cao Zaikui 曹載奎 (1782-1852)

  C.T. Loo Chinese Art (1953-1961)

  C.T. Loo & Cie, Art Ancien de Chine (ca. 1950-2011)

  C. T. Loo 盧芹齋 (1880-1957)

  Edward G. Robinson (1893-1973)

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

  Arthur M. Sackler Foundation (founded 1965)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation

• 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

  Cao, Zaikui, Loo, C. T., Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, C.T. Loo Chinese Art, Robinson, Edward G., J. T. Tai & Co., C.T. Loo & Cie, Art Ancien de Chine

• Place

  China

• Topic

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

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)