Mirror with birds, animals, and grapes

Object Details

• Label

  The design of lions and grapevines in the main decorative zone of this mirror shows the influence of styles and exotic imports which came to China from the west by the silk route. The heavy proportions, high relief, and silvery color are typical features of T'ang mirrors.

• Provenance

  From at least 1924

  C. T. Loo & Company, Paris, from at least 1924 [1]

  From at least 1929

  Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (1871-1941), New York and "The Chimneys," Sands Point, Port Washington, Long Island, from at least 1929 [2]

  From at least 1944

  Tonying and Company, New York, from at least February 1944 [3]

  From 1944

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Tonying and Company on February 7, 1944 [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See Zhu Deyi, P. Pelliot,

  Bronzes antiques de la Chine appartenant à C. T. Loo et Cie. (Paris and Brussels: Librairie Nationale d’art et d’histoire, G. van Oest, 1924), pl. 36. According to Paul Pelliot’s preface to the catalogue, the bronzes forming the C. T. Loo collection and selected for the publication had been recently brought from China.

  [2] 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. 37 A.

  [3] See Tonying & Company’s invoice, dated February 7, 1944, in which the mirror figures under no. B. 34: “Bronze Mirror, circular in form, ‘Grape and Sea-Horse’ design, fine patina / 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.

  [4] See invoice cited in note 2. See also A. G. Wenley’s letter to C. F. Yau, Tonying & Co., 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-F1944.4, F1944.6 -F1944.10).

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Silk Road Exhibition (August 18 to December 25, 2011)

  Personal Luxuries in Early China (July 7, 1998 to January 3, 2016)

  Chinese Art (February 18, 1983 to April 1, 1987)

  Chinese Art (March 15, 1982 to June 15, 1982)

  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)

  C. T. Loo & Company (1914-1948)

  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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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  600s, 700s

• Name

  Holmes, Christian R., C. T. Loo & Company, Tonying and Company

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bronze, Frogs, Cats, Art, Animals, Sculpture, Chinese Art, Grape, Horses, Birds, Tang dynasty (618 - 907), Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Mirrors