Ritual cauldron (ding) with interlaced dragons

Object Details

• Provenance

  ?-1961

  C. T. Loo INC., Paris, method of acquisition unknown [1]

  1961-1965

  J. T. Tai & Co., New York, purchased from C. T. Loo INC., Paris, through Wm. Bane & Co. [2]

  1965-1987

  Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), purchased from J. T. Tai & Co., New York [3]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Arthur M. Sackler [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See object file for copy of J. T. Tai & Co. stock record for stock no. YT-4335, described as “1 Bronze Ting with cov. Chou Dyn.” The record indicates the object was purchased from C. T. Loo INC, Paris, through the broker Wm. Bane & Co., on September 30, 1961. C. T. Loo (1880-1957) was one of the most prominent and well-known figures in the world of Chinese art in the first half of the twentieth century. Loo owned and operated eponymous galleries in New York and Paris, where he offered Chinese, Indian, and South Asian antiquities for study and sale. 

  [2] See note 1. J. T. Tai (1911-1992) was an incredibly important dealer in Chinese antiquities whose influence shaped American collections of Chinese art throughout the second half of the twentieth century. He began his career in China, and in early 1950 he emigrated to New York City with the help of C. T. Loo (1880-1957). Tai established himself as an independent dealer and opened a gallery on Madison Avenue by the autumn of 1950.

  [3] See note 1. The stock record shows that the object was sold to Arthur M. Sackler on January 30, 1965, as “Part 3.” Additionally, see object file for copy of J. T. Tai & Co. invoice Part 3 to Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, dated January 30, 1965, for stock no. YT-4335. Dr. Arthur M. Sackler was a physician, medical publisher, pharmaceutical marketer, and collector of Asian art.

  [4] Pursuant to the agreement between Arthur M. Sackler and the Smithsonian Institution, dated July 28, 1982, legal title of the donated objects was transferred to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on September 11, 1987. This object is part of the Museum’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of Art collection.

  Research updated July 5, 2023

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  In Praise of Ancestors: Ritual Objects from China (September 28, 1987 to January 1, 1989)

• Previous custodian or owner

  C. T. Loo, INC. (ca. 1948-no later than July 1953)

  J. T. Tai & Co. (established in 1950)

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Vessel

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 0s

• Name

  Sackler, Arthur M., C. T. Loo, INC., J. T. Tai & Co.

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bronze, Art, Sculpture, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770 - 221 BCE), Chinese Art, Spring and Autumn period (770 - 476 BCE), Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Vessels (containers)