Pendant in the form of a female dancer

Historical period(s)
Forgery in the style of Western Han dynasty, 20th century
Medium
Jade (nephrite)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 5.3 x 3.1 x 0.3 cm (2 1/16 x 1 1/4 x 1/8 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1987.708
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Jade, Jewelry and Ornament
Type

Pendant

Keywords
China, figure, forgery, Western Han dynasty (206 BCE - 9 CE)
Provenance

By 1939 to 1948
C. T. Loo and Company, New York, NY [1]

1948 to 1953
C. T. Loo, INC., New York, NY, by transfer from C. T. Loo and Company, New York, NY [2]

1953 to 1961
C. T. Loo Chinese Art by transfer from C. T. Loo, INC. [3]

1961 to 1964
Frank Caro Chinese Art, New York, NY [4]

1964 to 1987
Arthur M. Sackler, New York, NY, purchased in New York, NY, from Frank Caro Chinese Art on August 27, 1964 [5]

From 1987
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Arthur M. Sackler on September 11, 1987 [6]

Notes:
[1] In 1939, C. T. Loo and Company lent the object to the Arden Gallery January 10–February 11, 1939; see 3000 Years of Chinese Jade (New York: Arden Gallery, 1939), no. 157 (ill.).

[2] C. T. Loo, INC., was owned and operated by C. T. Loo (1880–1957), likely without a public facing gallery. He began this company in 1948, when C. T. Loo and Company lost access to trade in China.

[3] On September 1, 1952, C. T. Loo’s associate Frank Caro (1904–1980) took over daily operations of the New York business. C. T. Loo, INC., was dissolved by the summer of 1953, and Caro operated as C. T. Loo Chinese Art. Loo continued to play a large role in the business, as he and Caro struck a deal in which profits made on Loo’s stock would be evenly divided, and Loo would maintain the lease and rental payments on the company’s gallery space.

[4] In 1961, Loo and Caro’s agreement ended. C. T. Loo and Cie., Paris, France, took control of C. T. Loo Chinese Art, New York’s stock that C. T. Loo had added to the inventory before his death in 1957. Frank Caro then opened Frank Caro Chinese Art. Caro acquired pieces from Loo’s original stock, but the mode of acquisition is unknown. Frank Caro Chinese Art sold this object as no. E 5802, “Jade pendant, dancing girl. (Jade Cat. Pl. 48:5) (Red Cat. 267) Wadsworth Museum Cat. #88,” see invoice from Frank Caro Chinese Art to Arthur M. Sackler, August 27, 1964, copy in object file. Stock numbers with the prefix “E” typically were new numbers assigned by Frank Caro around 1953 (when he led C. T. Loo Chinese Art); this object probably had an additional stock number, which C. T. Loo had assigned to it before he transferred the business to Caro’s leadership.

[5] See invoice cited in note 4.

[6] Pursuant to the agreement between Arthur M. Sackler and the Smithsonian Institution, dated July 28, 1982, legal title of the donated objects was transferred to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on September 11, 1987.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Dr. Arthur M. Sackler 1913-1987
C.T. Loo & Company 1914-1948
C.T. Loo, INC. ca. 1948-no later than July 1953
C.T. Loo Chinese Art 1953-1961
Frank Caro Chinese Art 1962-1980

Published References
  • 4000 Years of Chinese Art: An Exhibition Organized and Lent by C.T. Loo. Exh. cat. Hartford, Connecticut. no. 88.
  • Exhibition of Chinese Arts, Special Sale. Exh. cat. New York, 1941-1942. no. 267.
  • C.T. Loo & Company, (Introduction) Lindsay Hughes Cooper. An Exhibition of Archaic Chinese Jades. Exh. cat. New York. pl. 48, 5.
  • Alfred Salmony. 3000 Years of Chinese Jade. Exh. cat. New York, January 10 - February 1, 1939. p. 76.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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