Figure of a mourning attendant

Object Details

• Description

  The sculpture is in full round, showing a simply clad male figure with hands encased in his sleeves and held together in front, above the waist. The deeply furrowed brows, downcast eyes, downturned lips, and slight bend of the body at the waist appropriately express a servant's sorrow at the loss of his master. Details of his robe, headdress, belt, and leather boots are carefully rendered.

• Provenance

  To 1954

  Tonying and Company, Inc., New York. [1]

  1954

  Sale, New York, Parke-Bernet Galleries Inc., Chinese Art: From the Collection of Tonying & Company, Inc., April 14 and 15, 1954, Sale #1511, lot 340: “Sculpted Stone Figure of a Gentleman-in-waiting.” [2]

  To 1976

  Greta S. Heckett (d. 1976), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [3]

  From 1976 to at least 1977

  Estate of Greta S. Heckett, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [4]

  From at least 1988 to 1990

  C.C. Wang (1907-2003), New York. [5]

  1990

  Sale, New York, Sotheby’s, The C.C. Wang Family Collection of Important Early Chinese Works of Art, November 27, 1990, Sale #6106, lot 46: “Rare Large Gray Limestone Figure of a Mourner.”[6]

  Unknown collector. [7]

  To 1996

  J. J. Lally & Co. Oriental Art, New York, acquired from unknown collector. [8]

  From 1996

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, purchased from J.J. Lally & Co., New York. [9]

  Notes:

  [1] The object was offered and sold at the Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York in April 1954 as part of the collection from Toying & Co., Inc. See object file, Collections Management Office.

  [2] See note 1.

  [3] The object was reoffered at a Sale by Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc., New York, Fine Chinese Works of Art: Including Snuff Bottles, Jade Carvings, Paintings, Archaic Bronzes, Sculpture, and Ceramics, June 1 and 2, 1977, Sale #4001, lot 377: “Rare Large Stone Figure of a Mourner” where it is listed as the Property from the Estate of Greta S. Heckett, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. According to the the Price List attached to the auction catalogue, it appears that the item did not sell at the auction. See copies in object file, Collections Management Office.

  [4] See note 3.

  [5] The object entered the collection of the Chinese painter C.C. Wang, who lived in New York, and was published in 1988 (Annette Juliano, "Bronze, Clay and Stone: Chinese Art in the C.C. Wang Family Collection" [Seattle & London: 1988], no. 73.) It was offered and sold at a Sale by Sotheby's, New York, The C.C. Wang Family Collection of Important Early Chinese Works of Art, November 27, 1990.

  [6] See note 5. At the Sale, the object was purchased by an undetermined collector. See copy of purchase list, copy in object file.

  [7] See letter from J.J. Lally & Co. to Jenny So dated November 24, 1995, copy in object file. At the time of this letter, the piece was owned by an unidentified collector.

  [8] See note 7. See also letters and invoice from J.J. Lally & Co., copies in object file, Collections Management Office.

  [9] See Acquisition Consideration Form, object file, Collections Management Office.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

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

• Previous custodian or owner

  Tonying and Company 通運公司 (established 1902)

  Sotheby's

  Greta S. Heckett

  Estate of Greta S. Heckett

  C.C. Wang (China, 1907-2003; active United States)

  Sotheby's (New York)

  J.J. Lally & Co. Oriental Art (active 1986-2021)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase -- funds provided by the Friends of Asian Arts and Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  600s

• Name

  Wang, C.C., J.J. Lally & Co. Oriental Art, Sotheby's, Tonying and Company, Estate of Greta S. Heckett, Heckett, Greta S., Sotheby's (New York)

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Art, Chinese Art, Men, Tomb, Tang dynasty (618 - 907), Funerary, Attendant, Stone

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Sculpture