Sword hilt with ring pommel in the form of a dragon

Historical period(s)
Han dynasty, 206 BCE-220 CE
Medium
Bronze with gilding and gold inlay
Dimensions
H x W: 11.3 x 6.7 cm (4 7/16 x 2 5/8 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1916.484a-b
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Weapon and Armament
Type

Weapon: hilt and pommel

Keywords
China, dragon, Han dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE)
Provenance

To 1916
You Xiaoxi, Shanghai, to 1916 [1]

From 1916 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from You Xiaoxi, in New York in 1916 [2]

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

Notes:

[1] See Original Bronze List, S.I. 1065, 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
You Xiaoxi (C.L. Freer source) late 19th-early 20th century

Published References
  • You Xiaoxi, Hsiao-chi Yu in, Chi-Tseng Chang. "游筱溪." Masterpieces of Chinese National Art: The Collection of Mr. Seaouke'e Yue. Shanghai, 1916. no. 9.
  • Sueji Umehara. Shina kodo seikwa [Selected Relics of Ancient Chinese Bronzes from Collections in Europe and Asia]. 3 vols., Osaka. vol. 2: pl. 109c.
  • Sueji Umehara. Furiya bijutsukan shugo no dogen sogo no ni san [Two or Three Sword Fittings in the Freer Gallery]. vol. 25, no. 3, March 1930. p. 3.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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