Headdress ornament in the form of a moth

Historical period(s)
Republican Period, 1920s - 1930s
Medium
Kingfisher feather, gold, metal, and silk
Dimensions
H x W x D (overall): 4.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 cm (1 3/4 x 2 3/16 x 5/16 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; a joint gift of the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, Paul Singer, the AMS Foundation for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, and the Children of Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S2011.1
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Jewelry and Ornament
Type

Ornament

Keywords
China, kingfisher, moth, Paul Singer collection, Republican Period (1912-1949), twisted wire
Provenance

To 1997
Paul Singer (1904-1997), Summit, New Jersey [1]

From 1997
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, bequeathed by Paul Singer [2]

Notes:

[1] The collection of Chinese art and antiquities assembled by Paul Singer over time was purchased by him on behalf of Arthur M. Sackler, The Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, the AMS Foundation for the Arts, Sciences and Humanities, and later transferred to the children of Arthur M. Sackler.

[2] Upon Paul Singer’s death in January 1997, his collection was transferred to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery by order of the Executors of the Estate under a loan agreement signed on February 1997. Shortly thereafter, the Sackler Gallery was vested with full ownership and title to the collection in full agreement by the Sackler Foundations and Sackler family members. In 2011 the object was accessioned to the Sackler Gallery collection.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Dr. Paul Singer 1904-1997
Dr. Carol Master born 1941
Dr. Elizabeth A. Sackler born 1948
Arthur F. Sackler born 1950
Denise Marika born 1955
Arthur M. Sackler Foundation founded 1965
AMS Foundation for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities founded 1981

Published References
  • Beverley Jackson. Kingfisher Blue: Treasure of an Ancient Chinese Art. Berkeley and Toronto. .
  • Scientific Research in the Field of Asian Art: Proceedings of the First Forbes Symposium at the Freer Gallery of Art. London. pp. 15-23, pl. 3.
  • , Ellen Chase, Blythe McCarthy. The Textile Speciality Group Postprints: Papers Delivered at the Textile Subgroup Session, a Joint Session with the Objects Speciality Group Concerning Composite Objects. vol. 12 Washington, June 2002. pp. 45-55.
  • Roland Hartman. Kingfisher Feather Jewelry. vol. 10, no. 3 Hong Kong, May - June 1980. pp. 75-81.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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