Pendant in the form of a mask, probably reworked from a tube (cong 琮)
![Detail of a pattern](https://asia.si.edu/wp-content/themes/custom/nmaa/nmaa-frontend/public/images/hero-bkgrnd-desktop.jpg)
Terms of Use
Usage Conditions ApplyAt A Glance
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Period
ca. 1250-ca. 1050 BCE -
Geography
Anyang, probably Henan province, China -
Material
Jade (nephrite) -
Dimension
H x W x D: 3.2 × 4.6 × 1.6 cm (1 1/4 × 1 13/16 × 5/8 in) -
Accession Number
S1987.550 -
EDAN ID
edanmdm:fsg_S1987.550
Object Details
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Description
Mask with convex surface. Pierced jaws and horns. Eye, jaw, and horns with spiral decoration are in doubly engraved line-relief. Engraved diamond on forehead. Reverse undecorated. Translucent green jade, brown marking on one edge. (Traces of earth; minor flaws.) -
Provenance
At least 1941 to 1948C. T. Loo & Company, New York, NY [1]1948 to 1953C. T. Loo, INC., New York, NY by transfer from C. T. Loo & Company, NY [2]1953 to 1961C. T. Loo Chinese Art, New York, NY by transfer from C. T. Loo, INC., NY [3]1961 to 1964Frank Caro Chinese Art, New York, NY, mode of acquisition known [4]1964 to 1987Arthur M. Sackler, New York, NY purchased in New York City from Frank Caro Chinese Art, New York, NY on August 27, 1964 [5]From 1987Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler on September 11, 1987 [6]Notes:[1] C. T. Loo & Company featured the object in a 1941 sale; see C. T. Loo & Company, Exhibition of Chinese Arts, catalogue of a Special Sale. C. T. Loo & Company, New York, NY (November 1,1941 to April 30, 1942), no. 244.[2] In 1948, when C. T. Loo could no longer trade in mainland China, he closed C. T. Loo & Company and opened C. T. Loo, INC.[3] On September 1, 1952, C. T. Loo’s associate, Frank Caro (1904-1980) took over daily operations of the New York business. C. T. Loo, INC. was dissolved by the summer of 1953 and Caro operated as C. T. Loo Chinese Art. 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. Caro assigned new inventory numbers to C. T. Loo & Company’s stock, assigning numbers with an “E” prefix. This object was included in that inventory process (see inventory number cited in note 4).[4] 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. Frank Caro then opened Frank Caro Chinese Art. Caro acquired pieces from Loo’s original stock (the mode of acquisition is unknown). See invoice from Frank Caro Chinese Art to Arthur M. Sackler, August 27, 1964, stock no. E 5679, “Small greenish tiger. (Jade Cat. Pl 18 #8 and Red Cat. #244)”, copy in object file. When Frank Caro acquired C. T. Loo’s stock (see note 1), he inventoried the objects and assigned new stock numbers, giving C. T. Loo & Company’s objects new numbers, many of which had an “E” prefix.[5] Pursuant to the agreement between Dr. 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. -
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection -
Exhibition History
Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings (February 25, 2023 to April 28, 2024)Gallery Installation, Elvehjem Museum of Art, Madison, Wisconsin (September 1, 1991 to January 5, 1992)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)An Exhibition of Chinese Archaic Jades (January 20 to March 1, 1950)Exhibition of Chinese Arts, Special Sale (November 1, 1941 to April 30, 1942) -
Previous custodian or owner
C.T. Loo & Company (1914-1948)C.T. Loo, INC. (ca. 1948-no later than July 1953)C.T. Loo Chinese Art (1953-1961)Frank Caro Chinese Art (1962-1980)Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987) -
Origin
Anyang, probably Henan province, China -
Credit Line
Gift of Arthur M. Sackler -
Type
Jewelry and Ornament -
Restrictions and Rights
Usage Conditions Apply
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