Zither

Object Details

• Description

  Wood, covered with black lacquer dusted with gold. Keys and pegs of brown wood; stops inlaid with metal. Inscription on back and inside the face.

• Provenance

  To 1915

  C. T. Loo (1880-1957), New York, NY obtained in China [1]

  1915 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), gift of C. T. Loo presented to C.L. Freer on Friday, December 31, 1915 [2]

  From 1920

  Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] See Charles Lang Freer’s diary entry for Friday, December 31, where he reports that “Mr. Loo brought musical instruments,” copy in object file.

  See also letter from C. T. Loo to Charles Lang Freer, undated, copy in object file. Loo writes to Freer: “Our friends in China have heard that you are looking for some antique Ching instruments and so they have bought 2 which I am sending you and hope that you would give us all a great pleasure to accept them as souvenirs from our Chinese friends.” C.L. Freer’s notation on Loo’s letter - “ANSD Jan. 3, 1916” - dates Freer’s response to Loo. The second musical instrument to which Loo refers in his letter is F1915.100.

  2] See note 1.

  [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Previous custodian or owner

  C. T. Loo 盧芹齋 (1880-1957) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Musical Instrument

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1630s

• Name

  Loo, C. T., Freer, Charles Lang

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Chinese Art, Chongzhen reign (1628 - 1644), Lacquer, Ming dynasty (1368 - 1644)

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Musical instruments