Ritual vessel with cover

Ceremonial vessel with cover.
Surface: heavy green aerugo and brownish earth incrustation over gilt bronze.

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Historical period(s)
Possibly Han dynasty, 206 BCE-220 CE
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H x W x D: 14.3 x 8.1 x 6.4 cm (5 5/8 x 3 3/16 x 2 1/2 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1919.65a-f
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Vessel
Type

Ritual vessel

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

Reportedly excavated in Shansi [1]

Chen Kai Chi (1813-1884), Wei Hsien, China [2]

To 1919
You Xiaoxi (late 19th-early 20th century), Shanghai, to 1919 [3]

1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from You Xiaoxi, in New York, in 1919 [4]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [5]

Notes:

[1] Curatorial Remark 3, H.E. Buckman, 1964, in the object record states: "The Envelope file which has now been destroyed, contained only the additional information: 'Excavated in Shansi; obtained by the Shantung connoisseur Chen Kai Chi of Wei Hsien.'" Curatorial Remark 4, H.C. Lovell, 1974, in the object record, states: "The box in which this object came bears this carved inscription on the lid: 'Wei Hsien Ch'en shih ts'ang' [Chn], indicating that the piece had come from the collection of Ch'en Chieh-ch'i [Chn] (1813-1884), the noted Shantung antiquarian and collector. However, it is not included in "Fu-chai chi-chin lu" [Chn], a catalogue of Ch'en's collection."

[2] See note 1.

[3] See Original Bronze List, S.I. 1444, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

[4] See note 3.

[5] 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)

Chen Kai Chi 1813-1884
Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919
You Xiaoxi (C.L. Freer source) late 19th-early 20th century

Description

Ceremonial vessel with cover.
Surface: heavy green aerugo and brownish earth incrustation over gilt bronze.

Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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