string(21) "edanmdm:fsg_S1987.695" Pendant in the form of a quadruped - National Museum of Asian Art

Pendant in the form of a quadruped

Detail of a pattern
Image 1 of 2
IIIF

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At A Glance

  • Period

    ca. 1100-ca. 1000 BCE
  • Geography

    China
  • Material

    Jade (nephrite) with traces of cinnabar
  • Dimension

    H x W x D: 2.7 x 3.9 x 1.4 cm (1 1/16 x 1 9/16 x 9/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    S1987.695
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_S1987.695

Object Details

  • Description

    Pendant, animal (ram, dog, or buffalo?); carved in the round; pierced in chest; opaque cream. (Totally calcified; surface worn; mostly covered with cinnabar deposits; some repair to legs, backside.)
  • Provenance

    As early as 1928
    Likely discovered at archeological sites in Loyang, Honan Province, China [1]
    To 1948
    Zhang Naiji (1899–1948), Shanghai, China then New York, NY [2]
    1948 to early 1950s
    Zhang Mei Chien (1901–c.1955), New York, NY inherited upon her husband’s death [3]
    Around 1954 to 1961
    C. T. Loo Chinese Art, New York, NY likely purchased from Zhang Mei Chien in New York, NY [4]
    1961 to 1964
    Frank Caro Chinese Art, New York, NY, mode of acquisition unknown [5]
    1964 to 1987
    Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, New York, NY purchase from Frank Caro Chinese Art on August 27, 1964 in New York, NY [6]
    From 1987
    Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler on September 11, 1987 [7]
    Notes:
    [1] Object published in Archaic Chinese Jades: Special Exhibition (Philadelphia: The University Museum, February 1940), cat. 99. Catalogue entry notes discovery site. Excavations at Anyang began in 1928.
    [2] Zhang Naiji (also known as N.C. Chang) was a businessman, born to a prestigious family in Zhejiang that made their wealth in the silk and salt industries. He collected ancient Chinese art objects and Chinese coins. Zhang amassed his collection whilst living in Shanghai, before leaving for America in 1938, and acquired his objects onsite of archeological excavations (see: Alfred Salmony, Chinese Jade through the Wei Dynasty. New York: The Ronald Press Company, 1963: 115.).
    Zhang lent his collection anonymously to Archaic Chinese Jades: Special Exhibition. We know his identity through letters housed in the Department of Archives, The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (see: letter, C. T. Loo to Horace Jayne, 25 October 1939 and letter, from C. T. Loo to Horace Jayne, 16 December 1939), copies in F|S COM provenance files. The exhibition was entirely organized by C. T. Loo & Company, New York. Letters exchanged between C. T. Loo and the director of The University Museum, Mr. Horace H.F. Jayne, reveal that Zhang Naiji owned the objects and C. T. Loo & Company had the collection on consignment (see: letter, from C. T. Loo to Horace Jayne, 28 May 1939 and letter, from C. T. Loo to Horace Jayne, 23 October 1940, copies on COM provenance files). C. T. Loo & Company kept the jade collection on consignment from 1940 through Zhang’s death in 1948, inventorying the pieces with a prefix “J” and labeling each item as “Chang Collection.”
    [3] Zhang Mei Chien, Zhang Naiji’s wife, assumed ownership upon his death in 1948. She sold several pieces from her husband’s collection to C. T. Loo & Company and J. T. Tai & Company. She sold several pieces to J. T. Tai & Company in July 1954. It is unclear when C. T. Loo Chinese Art purchased items from Zhang Mei Chien.
    [4] On September 1, 1952, C. T. Loo’s associate, Frank Caro (1904-1980) took over daily operations of the New York business, operating at 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.
    C. T. Loo Chinese Art kept the same stock number that C. T. Loo & Company assigned it when consigning for Zhang Naiji. This object could be item J-91, listed on the invoice from Frank Caro Chinese Art to Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, August 27, 1964 – “Archaic jade figure in round of baby water buffalo translucent Western Chou. Lt: 1- ¼ ins (Chang Coll).” Copy in object file.
    [5] 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). See invoice referenced in note 4.
    [6] Pursuant to the agreement between Dr. 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 of September 11, 1987.
  • Collection

    Arthur M. Sackler Collection
  • Exhibition History

    Archaic Chinese Jades, Special Exhibition (February 1940)
  • Previous custodian or owner

    Zhang Naiji 張乃驥 (1899-1948)
    Zhang Mei Chien (1900-1998)
    C.T. Loo Chinese Art (1953-1961)
    Frank Caro Chinese Art (1962-1980)
    Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)
  • Origin

    China
  • Credit Line

    Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
  • Type

    Jewelry and Ornament
  • Restrictions and Rights

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