Ongoing
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Dates
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Location
Freer Gallery of Art | Gallery 16
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Collection Area
Chinese Art
Located in northwest China, Chang’an (modern Xi’an) served as the gateway to the so-called Silk Road, overland trade routes that linked the prosperous Tang empire with Central, West, and South Asia. Foreign merchants joined Buddhist missionaries, diplomatic envoys, translators, craftsmen, entertainers, and other skilled immigrants to transform Chang’an into a cosmopolitan city. This wealthy, worldly hub offered a ready market for exotic imports, including silver and gold objects, delicate glassware, and even grape wine. To meet accelerating demand for stylish goods, local artisans translated foreign designs into a Chinese style.
Of all the travelers to Chang’an, the most successful group came from the distant kingdom of Sogdiana, located far to the west in modern Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. These Persian speakers seamlessly connected the cultural realms of China and Iran. While some traders and artisans traveled back and forth across Asia, others settled in China, where they helped fuel a fashion for Central Asian culture. One Sogdian community leader who died in China chose to be buried in a Sino-Sogdian manner and commissioned the funerary couch on view in this exhibition. Over time, the Sogdian population was gradually absorbed into Chinese society. Today, the Sogdians are regarded as a lost people.
Video | Meditation & Mindfulness: Square mirror with floral medallion, plant sprays, birds, and insects | View on YouTube
Foliated mirror with birds and floral scrolls (detail), China, early or mid-Tang dynasty, late 7th–early 8th century, cast bronze and applied gold plaque with repoussé, chased, and ring-punched decoration, Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment, Freer Gallery of Art, F1930.45
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Stemmed wine cup with floral scrolls Details
Stemmed wine cup with floral scrolls
Stemmed wine cup with floral scrolls
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Period
Early or mid-Tang dynasty
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Geography
Probably Xi’an, Shaanxi province, China
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Material
Cast bronze with chased and ring-punched decoration and mercury gilding
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Accession
F1911.70
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Foliated mirror with Chang’e (the Moon goddess), hare, toad, tree, and clouds Details
Foliated mirror with Chang’e (the Moon goddess), hare, toad, tree, and clouds
Foliated mirror with Chang’e (the Moon goddess), hare, toad, tree, and clouds
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Period
Mid-Tang dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Cast bronze
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Accession
F1911.116
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Lateral stretcher from the base of a funerary couch with Sogdian musicians and a dancer Details
Lateral stretcher from the base of a funerary couch with Sogdian musicians and a dancer
Lateral stretcher from the base of a funerary couch with Sogdian musicians and a dancer
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Period
Period of Division, Northern Qi dynasty
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Geography
Probably Ce xian, Henan province, China
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Material
Grey marble with traces of pigment
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Accession
F1915.109
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Frontal from the base of a funerary couch with Sogdian musicians and dancers and Buddhist divinities Details
Frontal from the base of a funerary couch with Sogdian musicians and dancers and Buddhist divinities
Frontal from the base of a funerary couch with Sogdian musicians and dancers and Buddhist divinities
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Period
Period of Division, Northern Qi dynasty, Northern Qi dynasty
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Geography
Probably Ce xian, Henan province, China
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Material
Grey marble with traces of pigment
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Accession
F1915.110
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Lateral stretcher from the base of a funerary couch with Sogdian musicians and a dancer Details
Lateral stretcher from the base of a funerary couch with Sogdian musicians and a dancer
Lateral stretcher from the base of a funerary couch with Sogdian musicians and a dancer
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Period
Period of Division, Northern Qi dynasty
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Geography
Probably Ce Xian, Henan province, China
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Material
Grey marble with traces of pigment
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Accession
F1915.336
View
Stemmed wine cup with floral scrolls Details
Stemmed wine cup with floral scrolls
Stemmed wine cup with floral scrolls
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Period
Mid-Tang dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Cast silver with chased and ring-punched decoration
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Accession
F1929.16
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Lidded box in the form of a melon with grapevines and knob in the form of a frog Details
Lidded box in the form of a melon with grapevines and knob in the form of a frog
Lidded box in the form of a melon with grapevines and knob in the form of a frog
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Period
Early or mid-Tang dynasty
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Geography
probably Xi’an, Shaanxi province, China
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Material
Cast and hammered silver with chased and ring-punched decoration and leaf gilding
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Accession
F1930.39a-b
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Small cup with cover Details
Small cup with cover
Small cup with cover
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Period
Tang dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Silver
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Accession
F1930.42a-b
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Foliated mirror with birds and floral scrolls Details
Foliated mirror with birds and floral scrolls
Foliated mirror with birds and floral scrolls
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Period
Early or mid-Tang dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Cast bronze and applied gold plaque with repoussé, chased, and ring-punched decoration
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Accession
F1930.45
View
Hinged cosmetic box in the form of a clam’s shell with birds and floral scrolls Details
Hinged cosmetic box in the form of a clam’s shell with birds and floral scrolls
Hinged cosmetic box in the form of a clam’s shell with birds and floral scrolls
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Period
Early or mid-Tang dynasty
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Geography
Probably Xi’an, Shaanxi province, China
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Material
Silver
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Accession
F1930.50a-b
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Wine cup with ring handle, birds, animals, and grape vines Details
Wine cup with ring handle, birds, animals, and grape vines
Wine cup with ring handle, birds, animals, and grape vines
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Period
Early Tang dynasty
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Geography
Probably Xi’an, Shaanxi province, China
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Material
Cast and hammered silver with chased and ring-punched decoration and mercury gilding
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Accession
F1930.51
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Lobed bowl with lotus petals, birds, animals, and floral scrolls Details
Lobed bowl with lotus petals, birds, animals, and floral scrolls
Lobed bowl with lotus petals, birds, animals, and floral scrolls
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Period
Early or mid-Tang dynasty
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Geography
Probably Xi’an, Shaanxi province, China
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Material
Hammered silver with repoussé, chased, and ring-punched decoration and mercury gilding
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Accession
F1931.8
View
Lidded container with birds and floral scrolls Details
Lidded container with birds and floral scrolls
Lidded container with birds and floral scrolls
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Period
Mid-Tang dynasty
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Geography
Probably Xi’an, Shaanxi province, China
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Material
Cast, hammered, and turned silver with chased and ring-punched decoration and mercury gilding
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Accession
F1931.17a-b
View
Octagonal mirror with animals, flowerets, and floral scrolls Details
Octagonal mirror with animals, flowerets, and floral scrolls
Octagonal mirror with animals, flowerets, and floral scrolls
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Period
Early or mid-Tang dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Cast bronze and applied gold plaque with repoussé, chased, and ring-punched decoration
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Accession
F1935.6a-b
View
Lobed mirror with a dragon and clouds Details
Lobed mirror with a dragon and clouds
Lobed mirror with a dragon and clouds
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Period
Mid-Tang dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Cast bronze
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Accession
F1938.8
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Square mirror with floral medallion, plant sprays, birds, and insects Details
Square mirror with floral medallion, plant sprays, birds, and insects
Square mirror with floral medallion, plant sprays, birds, and insects
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Period
Middle Tang dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Cast bronze, gold and silver sheets with chased decoration, and lacquer
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Accession
F1944.8
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Lobed ladle with floral scrolls Details
Lobed ladle with floral scrolls
Lobed ladle with floral scrolls
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Period
Early or mid-Tang dynasty
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Geography
Probably Xi’an, Shaanxi province, China
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Material
Hammered silver with repoussé, chased, and ring-punched decoration
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Accession
F1944.58
View
Lobed mirror with birds, animals, and floral scrolls Details
Lobed mirror with birds, animals, and floral scrolls
Lobed mirror with birds, animals, and floral scrolls
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Period
Early or mid-Tang dynasty
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Geography
China
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Material
Cast bronze and applied silver plaque with repoussé, chased, and ring-punched decoration and mercury gilding
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Accession
F1954.22
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Covered box in the form of a six petalled flower with birds and floral scrolls Details
Covered box in the form of a six petalled flower with birds and floral scrolls
Covered box in the form of a six petalled flower with birds and floral scrolls
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Period
Mid-Tang dynasty
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Geography
Probably Xi’an, Shaanxi province, China
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Material
Hammered silver with repoussé, chased, and ring-punched decoration and mercury gilding
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Accession
F1978.39a-b
View
Lobed bowl with lion, foliage and a ring of raised dots Details
Lobed bowl with lion, foliage and a ring of raised dots
Lobed bowl with lion, foliage and a ring of raised dots
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Geography
Probably Uzbekistan
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Material
Hammered silver with repoussé and chased decoration
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Accession
F1997.13
View
Wine cup with elephant heads on ring handle Details
Wine cup with elephant heads on ring handle
Wine cup with elephant heads on ring handle
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Geography
Central Asia, probably Uzbekistan
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Material
Hammered silver with repoussé, chased, and ring-punched decoration and mercury gilding
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Accession
F2012.1
