Seven-tier tube (cong 琮) with masks, eyes rubbed away

Ts’ung [cong] 琮. High square slightly tapering prism of brownish gray nephrite. Drilled longitudinally from both sides leaving a smooth ridge in the middle. Carved patterns, consisting of a regular sequence, in seven tiers, of horizontal grooves and ledges.

Maker(s)
Artist: Liangzhu culture 良渚 (ca. 3300-ca. 2250 BCE)
Historical period(s)
Late Neolithic period, ca. 3300-2250 BCE
Medium
Jade (nephrite)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 20.4 x 8.1 x 8.1 cm (8 1/16 x 3 3/16 x 3 3/16 in) Diam (hole): 6.3 cm (2 7/16 in)
Geography
China, Lake Tai region
Credit Line
Gift of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1968.30
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceremonial Object, Jade
Type

Ceremonial object: cong

Keywords
China, Late Neolithic period (ca. 5000 - ca. 1700 BCE)
Provenance

From at least 1967 to 1968
Eugene Meyer (1875-1959) and Agnes E. Meyer (1887-1970), Washington, DC and Mt. Kisco, NY, from at least July 24, 1967 [1]

From 1968
Freer Gallery of Art, given by Agnes E. Meyer in 1968 [2]

Notes:

[1] The object is included in Agnes E. Meyer’s Deed of Gift, listed as no. 16 in the document’s Annex, dated July 24, 1967, copy in object file.

[2] See Agnes E. Meyer’s Deed of Gift, cited in note 1.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer (1875-1959) and (1887-1970)

Description

Ts’ung [cong] 琮. High square slightly tapering prism of brownish gray nephrite. Drilled longitudinally from both sides leaving a smooth ridge in the middle. Carved patterns, consisting of a regular sequence, in seven tiers, of horizontal grooves and ledges.

Published References
  • J. Keith Wilson, Jingmin Zhang. Jades for Life and Death. .
  • Thomas Lawton. Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Memorial Exhibition. Exh. cat. Washington, 1971. cat. 4, pp. 8-9.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Jades for Life and Death
Google Cultural Institute
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