Ritual wine warmer (jue) with masks (taotie)

Detail of a pattern
Image 1 of 3
Download Image IIIF

Terms of Use

Usage Conditions Apply

At A Glance

  • Period

    ca. 1250-1200 BCE
  • Geography

    Anyang, probably Henan province, China
  • Material

    Bronze
  • Dimension

    H x W x D: 21 × 18.4 × 8.7 cm (8 1/4 × 7 1/4 × 3 7/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    S1987.53
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_S1987.53

Object Details

  • Inscriptions

    Inscribed under the handle, Fa Fu Ding 伐父丁 (“Fa-officer [made for] Deceased Father Ding”)
  • Provenance

    By 1982-1987
    Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), method of acquisition unknown [1]
    From 1987
    Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Arthur M. Sackler [2]
    Notes:
    [1] See Robert W. Bagley, “Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections: Volume 1 of Ancient Chinese Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections” [book] (The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, and The Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Harvard University: Washington, D.C. and Cambridge, MA, 1987), cat. 13, pp. 184-185. Dr. Arthur M. Sackler was a physician, medical publisher, pharmaceutical marketer, and collector of Asian art.
    [2] 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 April 25, 2023
  • Collection

    Arthur M. Sackler Collection
  • Exhibition History

    Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings (February 25, 2023 to April 28, 2024)
    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

    Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)
  • Origin

    Anyang, probably Henan province, China
  • Credit Line

    Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
  • Type

    Vessel
  • 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