Disk (bi 璧)

Object Details

• Description

  Central hole slanted. Ridge on one side of outer edge. Light green translucent jade with darker markings in brown and tan. Chipped on outer edge.

• Provenance

  From as early as 1931

  Wells Objects of Art (C. Edward Wells), New York, NY [1]

  To 1964

  Frank Caro Chinese Art, New York, NY mode of acquisition unknown [2]

  1964 to 1987

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, New York, NY purchased from Frank Caro Chinese Art on August 27, 1984 in New York, NY [3]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler in 1987 [4]

  Notes:

  [1] According to information provided by the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, October 9, 2009.

  Copy of the document in the accession file. C. Edward Wells operated Wells Objects of Art on Madison Avenue and specialized in Asian fine art. He incorporated his shop in July 1931.

  [2] Object included on invoice from Frank Caro Chinese Art, addressed to Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, 29 September 1966, inventoried as “W 153A”: Jade Large Huang, greenish with brown splashes, Shang, Diam: 5-1/2 ins.”

  [3] Arthur M. Sackler purchased the object from Frank Caro Chinese Art on 29 September 1966, copy of invoice located in accession file.

  [4] 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

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Wells Objects of Art

  C. Edward Wells (1898-1991)

  Frank Caro Chinese Art (1962-1980)

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Origin

  Northwest China

• Culture

  Qijia culture, ca. 2250-ca.1900 BCE

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Ceremonial Object

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 2000s, BCE 1000s

• Name

  Frank Caro Chinese Art, Sackler, Arthur M., Wells Objects of Art, Wells, C. Edward

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Art, Late Neolithic period (ca. 5000 - ca. 1700 BCE), Chinese Art, Nephrite, Jade

• Culture

  Qijia culture, Chinese

• Object Type

  Ceremonial objects