Jade hound

Object Details

• Description

  Recling hound with long tail curled to rest on his haunch. Head lies on his forepaws brought together in front. His backbone is delineated as a knobby spine with small, raised circlets suggesting individual vertebrae, and carving suggests a ribcage. The head has floppy ears, wide-set, open eyes, and a broad grin. The jade is of two tones, either natural or dyed accents to the ears and along the dog's back.

• Provenance

  At least 1975 to 1997

  Dr. Paul Singer (1904-1997), Summit, NJ, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1997-1999

  In the custody of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, upon Paul Singer's death in January 1997 and a loan agreement between the Executors of the Singer Estate and the Gallery in February 1997 [2]

  From 1999

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, Paul Singer, the AMS Foundation for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, and the Children of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, returned by Nader Rasti of Rasti Chinese Art from Hong Kong, China in June 2019 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] The object was exhibited between May 1, 1975 to June 22, 1975 at the Victoria and Albert Museum for the exhibition, "Chinese Jade throughout the Ages." The exhibition was organized by the Arts Council of Great Britain and the Oriental Ceramic Society. At the time of the exhibition it was in the collection of Dr. Paul Singer. See Jessica Rawson and John Ayers, "Chinese Jade throughout the Ages," (London: Oriental Ceramic Society, 1975), p. 82, cat. no. 246, copy in object file. The collection of Chinese art and antiquities assembled by Paul Singer over time was purchased by him on behalf of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, Jillian Sackler, The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, the AMS Foundation for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities and was later transferred to the children of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler.

  [2] After Dr. Paul Singer's death on January 19, 1997, his collection was transferred to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery by the Executors of his Estate under a loan agreement signed in February 1997. Shortly thereafter, the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery was vested with full ownership of and title to Dr. Singer's collection pursuant to a March 1999 Gift Agreement between the Gallery, the Sackler Foundations, and Sackler family members.

  See "The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art Gift Agreement" from March 1999, Collections Management Office.

  [3] As part of the 1999 Gift Agreement the Gallery acquired title to the Jade Hound as an inventoried piece in Dr. Singer's collection.

  The Gallery, however, did not obtain physical possession of the Jade Hound, because it was among numerous pieces in Dr. Singer's collection identified as missing in early 1997 when museum staff visited Dr. Singer's home in Summit, New Jersey after his death to account for his collection.

  The Jade Hound was formally accessioned by the Gallery on October 19, 2012, but it was not until December 2018 that the Gallery obtained physical possession of the piece. On August 5, 2018, Nader Rasti of Rasti Chinese Art notified museum staff that he had purchased the jade in Taipei, Taiwan from Mr. Huang of Kingchang Antiques Co., Ltd. on September 20, 2016. See email from Nader Rasti dated August 5, 2018, and April 4, 2019, copies in object file. The jade was returned to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery by Mr. Rasti in December 2018. See communication dated December 20, 2018, between the museum and Nader Rasti. See also the Temporary Custody Receipt, object file.

  Updated on September 16, 2020

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  Chinese Jade Throughout the Ages (May 1 to June 22, 1975)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Dr. Paul Singer (1904-1997)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; a joint gift of the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, Paul Singer, the AMS Foundation for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, and the Children of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Sculpture

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1800s, 1910s

• Name

  Singer, Paul

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Art, The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Animals, Chinese Art, Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911), Dogs, Jade

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Sculpture