Ritual wine container (zun) with taotie and dragons

Object Details

• Provenance

  From at least 1951 to 1970

  Dennis M. Cohen (1891-1970). [1]

  1970

  Mrs. Mary Cohen, ownership transferred to Mrs. Cohen after the death of her husband, Dennis M. Cohen in 1970. [2]

  1970

  Sale, London, Sotheby & Co., Important Archaic Chinese Bronzes, Sculpture and Ceramics: The Property of Mrs. Mary Cohen, July 14, 1970, lot 53: “A Ritual Bronze Wine Vessel (tsun).” [3]

  From 1970 to 1997

  Dr. Paul Singer (1904-1997), Summit, New Jersey, purchased at Sale, London, Sotheby & Co., Important Archaic Chinese Bronzes, Sculpture and Ceramics: The Property of Mrs. Mary Cohen, July 14, 1970, lot 53: “A Ritual Bronze Wine Vessel (tsun).” [4]

  From 1997 to 1999

  In the custody of Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington, DC [5]

  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. [6]

  Notes:

  [1] According to notes from Thomas Lawton, the vessel was exhibited, while in the collection of Dennis M. Cohen (1891-1970), in the Exhibition of Early Chinese Bronzes, organized by the Oriental Ceramic Society, London, 1951, catalogue no. 7. See Curatorial Remark 2 in the object record.

  [2] See auction catalogue for the Sotheby & Co., London Sale, Important Archaic Chinese Bronzes, Sculpture and Ceramics: The Property of Mrs. Mary Cohen, July 14, 1970.

  [3] See note 2.

  [4] According to the Price List for the Sotheby & Co., London Sale, Important Archaic Chinese Bronzes, Sculpture and Ceramics: The Property of Mrs. Mary Cohen, July 14, 1970, lot 53 was purchased by Dr. Paul Singer. See note 2.

  [5] Between 1997 and 1999, The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art was in the custody of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington DC

  [6] See “The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art Gift Agreement” from March 1999, Collections Management Office. The object was formally accessioned into the museum’s permanent collection in 2012.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  Sotheby's (London)

  Dennis M. Cohen (1891-1970)

  Mrs. Mary Cohen

  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

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  Singer, Paul, Sotheby's (London), Cohen, Mary, Cohen, Dennis M.

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bronze, Wine and wine making, Art, The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Zun, Sculpture, Chinese Art, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE), Taotie, Dragon, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)