Ritual wine ewer (gong) with masks (taotie), dragons, and real animals

Object Details

Description
Ewer with design that incorporates many stylized birds and animals. No inscription.
Marks
Stickers and painted inscription on bottom of lid read:
"K./No 266" (white sticker with red border)
"266" (round white sticker with black ink)
Written in red ink on bottom of lid:
"L.1707.B"
Written in red ink on bottom of body"
Written in red ink on bottom of body"
Provenance
From at least 1926 to 1961
Eugene Meyer (1875-1959) and Agnes E. Meyer (1887-1970), Washington, DC, and Mt. Kisco, NY, from at least 1926 [1]
From 1961
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer in 1961 [2]
Notes:
[1] See H. d'Ardenne de Tizac, L'Art Chinois Classique (Paris: Henri Laurens, 1926), p. 25, pls. 6-7.
[2] See Agnes Meyer's Deed of Gift, dated December 21, 1961, copy in object file.
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History
Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings (February 25, 2023 to April 28, 2024)
Ancient Chinese Jades and Bronzes (November 20, 2010 to January 3, 2016)
Ancient Chinese Bronzes (May 9, 1993 to February 10, 1997)
Chinese Art (February 18, 1983 to April 1, 1987)
Chinese Art (June 15, 1982 to September 24, 1982)
Chinese Art (March 15, 1982 to June 15, 1982)
Chinese Art (March 9, 1981 to March 12, 1982)
Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Memorial Exhibition (September 25, 1971 to October 2, 1972)
Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)
Ausstellung Chinesischer Kunst (January 12 to April 2, 1929)
Previous custodian or owner
Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer ((1875-1959) and (1887-1970))
Date
ca. 1100-1050 BCE
Period
Probably late Shang dynasty, late Anyang period
Origin
China
Topic
animal
Shang dynasty (ca. 1600 - ca. 1050 BCE)
Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE)
wine
China
Chinese Art
taotie
On View
Sackler Gallery 23a: Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings
Related Online Resources
Google Cultural Institute
See more items in
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
Credit Line
Gift of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer
Data Source
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
F1961.33a-b
Type
Vessel
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H x W x D: 32.2 × 32.2 × 15.7 cm (12 11/16 × 12 11/16 × 6 3/16 in)
Record ID
fsg_F1961.33a-b
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye3810cf905-f85e-4adb-b160-1e5b94cbffe9
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