Pendant in the form of a stag

Object Details

• Description

  The jade stag is presented in silhouette, with its characteristic horns extending backward to repeat the curving form of the stag’s body. Details such as the eye, ear, and haunches are indicated with beveled lines. The animal’s cloven hooves are schematically presented. There is a circular perforation on the stag’s throat. (Mostly calcified; old stickers adhering to back; small nicks and surface cracks; some antler tips broken off; soil and cinnabar adhering.)

• Provenance

  C. T. Loo & Co., Paris and New York [1]

  From at least 1930 to at least 1939

  Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (died 1941), New York and "The Chimneys," Sands Point, Port Washington, Long Island, from at least 1930 [2]

  From at least 1959

  Tonying & Company, New York, from at least 1959 [3]

  From 1959 to 1987

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), New York, purchased from Tonying and Company on November 25, 1959 [4]

  From 1987

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

  Notes:

  [1] According to Umehara Sueji, Shina Kokyoku Zuroku (Kuwara Bansei-do, 1955), pl. 75, no. 3.

  [2] According to Otto Kümmel, Jörg Trübner zum Gedächtnis: Ergebnisse seiner letzten chinesischen Reisen (Berlin, Klinkhardt & Biermann Verlag, 1930), p. 60, pl. 30c. In 1939 Mrs. Holmes lent the jade to 3000 Years of Chinese Jade exhibition at Arden Gallery in New York, see

  3000 Years of Chinese Jade, exh. cat. (New York: Arden Gallery, January 10-February 11, 1939), cat. 95 (ill.).

  [3] See Tonying & Company’s invoice, issued to Arthur M. Sackler, dated November 25, 1959, in which the jade is listed under no. Jo 31: “Archaic Jade Deer / Shang,” copy in object file, provided by Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, October 2009.

  [4] See Tonying & Company’s invoice cited in note 2.

  [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

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

  In Praise of Ancestors: Ritual Objects from China (September 28, 1987 to January 1, 1989)

• Previous custodian or owner

  C.T. Loo & Company (1914-1948)

  Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (1871-1941)

  Tonying and Company 通運公司 (established 1902)

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Jewelry and Ornament

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  Holmes, Christian R., Sackler, Arthur M., Tonying and Company, C.T. Loo & Company

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Stag, Western Zhou dynasty (ca. 1050 - 771 BCE), Art, Carving, Chinese Art, Nephrite, Jade

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Ornaments, Jewelry