Pendant in the form of a turtle

Object Details

• Description

  Pendant; turtle, carved in round; no decoration; pierced at shoulder; translucent green. (Mostly calcified; much surface damage; pits, worn; feet one side, tail chipped off; red deposit.)

  (Jenny F. So, October 17, 1996) The large smooth shell, marked by a low central ridge, dominates this sculpture of a turtle. Turning slightly to one side, the creature's head shows round eyes in low relief. Its feet emerge from under the shell asymmetrically, as if it is in motion; those on one side are damaged. A small hole is drilled at the base of the neck on one side.

• Provenance

  Alfred F. Pillsbury, Minneapolis, MN [1]

  By 1958 to 1961

  C. T. Loo Chinese Art, New York, NY, mode of acquisition known [2]

  1962 to 1964

  Frank Caro Chinese Art, New York, NY, mode of acquisition unknown [3]

  1964 to 1987

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, New York, purchased from Frank Caro Chinese Art in New York City on August 27, 1964 [4]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler on September 11, 1987 [5]

  Notes:

  [1] In 1939, Alfred F. Pillsbury of Minneapolis loaned the object to the Arden Gallery; see 3000 Years of Chinese Jade exh. cat. (New York: Arden Gallery, January 10 – February 11,1939), no. 103 (ill).

  [2] In 1958, C. T. Loo Chinese Art lent the object to the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, CT; See 4000 Years of Chinese Art: An Exhibition Organized and Lent by C. T. Loo exh. cat. Wadsworth Atheneum (October 17 to November 30, 1958), no. 32.

  On September 1, 1952, C. T. Loo’s associate, Frank Caro (1904-1980) took over daily operations of C. T. Loo’s New York business C. T. Loo, INC. This company 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.

  [3] 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). Frank Caro Chinese Art stock no. FC-2391: "Archaic jade turtle, greenish grey jade, traces of cinnabar," see invoice from Frank Caro Chinese Art to Arthur M. Sackler, August 27, 1964, copy in object file.

  [4] See note 3.

  [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)

  5000 Years of Chinese Jade (October 1, 2011 to February 19, 2012)

  Chinese Jade Animals (April 19 to July 14, 1996)

  The Arts of China (November 18, 1990 to September 7, 2014)

  4000 Years of Chinese Art (October 17 to November 30, 1958)

  300 Years of Chinese Jade (January 10 to February 11, 1939)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Alfred Fiske Pillsbury (1876-1950)

  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

  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

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  Frank Caro Chinese Art, Sackler, Arthur M., C.T. Loo Chinese Art, Pillsbury, Alfred Fiske

• Place

  China, Henan province, Anyang

• Topic

  Art, Carving, Chinese Art, Turtles, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE), Nephrite, Jade

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Ornaments, Jewelry