Oval cup with handles and scrolls

Historical period(s)
Warring States period, Late Eastern Zhou dynasty, 4th-3rd century BCE
Medium
Jade (nephrite)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 3 x 9.9 x 8.1 cm (1 3/16 x 3 7/8 x 3 3/16 in)
Geography
China, Henan province, Jincun
Credit Line
Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1987.645
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Jade, Vessel
Type

Vessel

Keywords
China, Eastern Zhou dynasty (770 - 221 BCE), Warring States period (475 - 221 BCE)
Provenance

By 1939 to 1948
C. T. Loo & Company, New York, NY [1]

1948 to 1953
C. T. Loo, INC., New York, NY by transfer from C. T. Loo & Company, NY [2]

1953 to 1961
C. T. Loo Chinese Art, New York, NY by transfer from C. T. Loo, INC., NY [3]

1961 to 1964
Frank Caro Chinese Art, New York, NY, mode of acquisition unknown [4]

From 1964 to 1987
Arthur M. Sackler, New York, purchased from Frank Caro Chinese Art on August 27, 1964 in New York City [5]

From 1987
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Arthur M. Sackler on September 11, 1987 [6]

Notes:

[1] In 1939, C. T. Loo & Company, New York lent the object to the Arden Gallery; see 3000 Years of Chinese Jade exh. cat. (New York: Arden Gallery, January 10 – February 11, 1939) no. 183 (ill.).

[2] When C. T. Loo & Company lost access to direct trade with mainland China in 1948, C. T. Loo closed the company and began C. T. Loo, INC. He dissolved the company in 1953. C. T. Loo, INC.’s ownership is also indicated in “Chinese Archaic Jades,” The Norton Gallery, West Palm Beach, Florida (1950), Plate XXXVII, no. 1.

[3] On September 1, 1952, C. T. Loo’s associate, Frank Caro (1904-1980) took over daily operations of the New York business. C. T. Loo, INC. was dissolved by the summer of 1953 and Caro operated as C. T. Loo Chinese Art. Loo continued to play a large role in the business, as he and Caro struck a deal in which profits made on Loo’s stock would be evenly divided and Loo would maintain the lease and rental payments on the company’s gallery space. Frank Caro Chinese Art stock no. D-6294: "Jade coupe (Jade Cat. Pl. 37 #1) Arden Cat. #183 (Red Cat. #245),” see invoice from Frank Caro Chinese Art to Arthur M. Sackler, August 27, 1964, copy in the object file.

[4] In 1961, Loo and Caro’s agreement ended. C. T. Loo & Cie., Paris, France took control of C. T. Loo Chinese Art, New York’s stock that C. T. Loo had added to the inventory before his death in 1957. Frank Caro then opened Frank Caro Chinese Art. Caro acquired pieces from Loo’s original stock (the mode of acquisition is unknown). Frank Caro, C. T. Loo’s associate, acquired C. T. Loo’s remaining stock after liquidation of C. T. Loo & Co. in 1952. Caro took control on September 1, 1952 and rebranded the company as C. T. Loo Chinese Art and later as Frank Caro Chinese Art.

[5] See invoice cited in note 2.

[6] 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.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Dr. Arthur M. Sackler 1913-1987
C.T. Loo & Company 1914-1948
C.T. Loo, INC. ca. 1948-no later than July 1953
C.T. Loo Chinese Art 1953-1961
Frank Caro Chinese Art 1962-1980

Published References
  • Sueji Umehara. Shina kogyoku zuroku [Selected Specimens of Chinese Archaic Jade]. Kyoto, 1955. Plate LX, no. 1.
  • Exhibition of Chinese Arts, Special Sale. Exh. cat. New York, 1941-1942. no. 245.
  • C.T. Loo & Company, (Introduction) Lindsay Hughes Cooper. An Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades. Exh. cat. New York. pl. 37, no. 1.
  • Thomas Lawton. Publication title unknown. cat. 104.
  • Alfred Salmony. 3000 Years of Chinese Jade. Exh. cat. New York, January 10 - February 1, 1939. no.183, p. 76.
  • et al. Asian Art in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery: The Inaugural Gift. Washington, 1987. cat. 65, p. 109.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
SI Usage Statement

Usage Conditions Apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery welcome information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

citation | Save this image How to download an image | Request Permission | Terms of Use