Foliated mirror with felines and birds
Terms of Use
Usage Conditions ApplyAt A Glance
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Period
8th century -
Geography
China -
Material
Bronze -
Dimension
Diam x D: 19.3 x 1.4 cm (7 5/8 x 9/16 in) -
Accession Number
F1944.4 -
EDAN ID
edanmdm:fsg_F1944.4
Object Details
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Provenance
From at least 1929Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (1871-1941), New York and "The Chimneys," Sands Point, Port Washington, Long Island, from at least 1929 [1]From at least 1944Tonying and Company, New York, from at least February 1944 [2]From 1944Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Tonying and Company on February 7, 1944 [3]Notes:[1] See Yamanaka & Company, To-So Seikwa: Select relics of the Tang and Sung Dynasties from the Collections in Europe and America (Osaka, 1929), vol. 2, pl. 39.[2] See Tonying & Company’s invoice, dated February 7, 1944, in which the mirror figures under no. B. 33: “Bronze Polyfoliate Mirror, designs of floral scrolls, flying Phoenixes, etc. / Tang.” copy in object file.The acquisition was approved by C. G. Abbot, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, on February 4, 1944, see “List of Objects Contemplated for Purchase by the Freer Gallery of Art,” copy in object file.[3] See invoice cited in note 2. See also A. G. Wenley’s letter to C. F. Yau, Tonying & Company, dated February 5, 1944, in which Wenley confirms the purchase of the mirror along with seven other mirrors from the Holmes collection (see records for F1944.3, F1944.5-F1944.10). -
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection -
Exhibition History
Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)Chinese Bronze, Jade, Metalwork (March 1, 1957 to January 1, 1963)Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 14 and 15 (February 25, 1956 to March 1, 1957)Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Metalwork and Painting, East Corridor (February 15, 1955 to August 26, 1955)Special Mirror Exhibition (November 16, 1954 to February 25, 1955)Special Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1946 (August 7, 1946 to January 7, 1947)Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1946 (May 7, 1946 to February 25, 1956) -
Previous custodian or owner
Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (1871-1941)Tonying and Company 通運公司 (established 1902) -
Origin
China -
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment -
Type
Mirror -
Restrictions and Rights
Usage Conditions Apply
There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
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