Ceremonial vessel (yu) with cover

Chinese,
Recent

Ceremonial vessel, type “yu,” with cover.
Surface: seal-brown patina with areas of rich malachite green on the neck and inside the cover.
Decoration: in high and low relief. On seal inside the bowl, and one inside the cover.

Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H x W x D: 38.3 x 26.3 x 24 cm (15 1/16 x 10 3/8 x 9 7/16 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1911.55a-b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Vessel
Type

Ritual vessel: yu

Keywords
China, inscription
Provenance

To 1911
Li Wenqing (circa 1869-1931), Shanghai to 1911 [1]

From 1911 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Li Wenqing in 1911 [2]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Original Bronze List, S.I. 210, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

[2] See note 1.

[3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919
Li Wenqing (C.L. Freer source) ca. 1869-1931

Description

Chinese,
Recent

Ceremonial vessel, type "yu," with cover.
Surface: seal-brown patina with areas of rich malachite green on the neck and inside the cover.
Decoration: in high and low relief. On seal inside the bowl, and one inside the cover.

Inscription(s)

(From the original folder sheet, see Curatorial Remarks #3)
The inscription both on the cover and the bottom are the same. The outline is a common sign on the jars at that time (Chou period), but the figures in that outline are different; sometimes, we have figures of animals, and sometimes we have the name of the emperor like "father Kwai."

Published References
  • Bernhard Karlgren. Yin and Chou in Chinese Bronzes. no. 8, 1955 article reprint. Stockholm. cat. A64, pl. 26.
  • Chin wen tsung chi. Taipei. vol. 6: p. 2776.
  • Shang Chou chin wen shi ch'eng. Multi-volume, Taipei. cat. 5617.
  • Katheryn M. Linduff. The Incidence of Lead in Late Shang and Early Chou Ritual Vessels. vol. 19, no. 3 Philadelphia, Spring 1977. pp. 7-16, figs. 2, 3.
  • Dr. John Alexander Pope, Rutherford John Gettens, James Cahill, Noel Barnard. The Freer Chinese Bronzes. Oriental Studies Series, vol. 1, no. 7 Washington. cat. 51, p. 291.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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