Group of three buttons in the form of a bear’s face

Historical period(s)
Western Han dynasty, 3rd-1st century BCE
Medium
Bronze with gilding
Dimensions
H x W x D (each, approx.): 1.3 x 1.5 x 1.8 cm (1/2 x 9/16 x 11/16 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
S2012.9.2559.1-3
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork
Type

Buttons

Keywords
bear, China, Paul Singer collection, Western Han dynasty (206 BCE - 9 CE)
Provenance

To 1983
Laurence Sickman (1907-1988). [1]

From 1983 to 1997
Dr. Paul Singer (1904-1997), Summit, New Jersey, purchased from Laurence Sickman in 1983. [2]

From 1997 to 1999
In the custody of Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington, DC [3]

From 1999
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 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. [4]

Notes:

[1] See Curatorial Remark 1 in the object record.

[2] See note 1.

[3] The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art was in the custody of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington DC

[4] See “The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art Gift Agreement” from March 1999, Collections Management Office. The object was formally accessioned into the museum’s permanent collection in 2012.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Dr. Paul Singer 1904-1997
Laurence Sickman 1907-1988

Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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