Bell (yong) with dragons from a set of six graduated bells (bianzhong), along with S1987.4 .7 & .9

Detail of a pattern
Image 1 of 3
IIIF

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At A Glance

  • Period

    ca. 525-475 BCE
  • Geography

    China
  • Material

    Bronze
  • Dimension

    H x W x D: 39 x 20 x 16.6 cm (15 3/8 x 7 7/8 x 6 9/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    S1987.8
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_S1987.8

Object Details

  • Provenance

    1917-1941
    Emmanuel Gran (1894-1969) Shanghai, China; Los Angeles, CA; then New York, NY., purchased while living in China [1]
    1940s-1954
    Emmanuel Gran and Delight (Philips) Gran (1912-1974), Los Angeles, CA; then New York, NY, jointly owned through marriage [2]
    1954-1959
    J. T. Tai & Company, New York, NY purchased from Delight Gran on June 27, 1954 in New York, NY [3]
    1959-1987
    Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, New York, NY purchased from J. T. Tai & Company on January 15, 1959 in New York, NY [4]
    From 1987
    Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler on September 11, 1987 [5]
    Notes:
    [1] See J. T. Tai & Company Stock Record, YT 876, copy in object file. Purchase from "Mrs. D. Gran" and sale to Sackler recorded. Noted that this object was purchased and sold as part of a set of six.
    Emmanuel Gran was a Russian architect who lived in China, near Shanghai, from 1917 to 1941, where he built several large buildings, including the Cathy Hotel in Shanghai. Whilst living in China he amassed a large collection of Chinese antiquities. After the Japanese invasion of Shanghai, Gran and his collection relocated to Los Angeles, CA, where he designed ships for the American War Department.
    In California, he met and married Delight Philips. After the war, Gran began to design movie sets, however, he soon went to work for Hilton Hotels as their in-house architect and relocated to New York City.
    [2] See note 1. Emmanuel Gran married Delight Philips sometime in the 1940s. We can assume they jointly owned the bell, as Delight Gran was responsible for its sale to J. T. Tai & Company, NY.
    [3] See note 1.
    [4] See note 1. The stock record indicates that all six bells were sold to Arthur M. Sackler on January 15, 1959.
    [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

    Resound: Ancient Bells of China (October 14, 2017 - July 5, 2021)
    The Arts of China (November 18, 1990 to September 7, 2014)
    Ancient Chinese Bronzes and Jades (October 1, 1989 - September 10, 1990)
    In Praise of Ancestors: Ritual Objects from China (September 28, 1987 to January 1, 1989)
    Art from Ritual: Ancient Chinese Bronze Vessels from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections (April 23 to September 6, 1983)
    Unearthing China's Past (November 15, 1973 to February 15, 1974)
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Emmanuel Gran
    Delight Gran (1912-1974)
    J. T. Tai & Co. (established in 1950)
    Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)
  • Origin

    China
  • Credit Line

    Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
  • Type

    Musical Instrument
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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