Vase shaped like an archaic gu
date: label: Date
content: 1662-1722
label: Period
content: Qing dynasty, Kangxi reign
name: label: Inscription
content: Wang Zifan
notes: label: Description
content: Vessel in the shape of a Shang dynasty ceremonial "ku;" copper decorated with cloisonne enamels in light blue, dark blue, green, red, yellow, and white; inside the foot is an inscription of eight characters in relief giving a K'ang-hsi date. A separate flower holder fits inside the mouth.
label: Inscriptions
content: (From the Original Folder Sheet, see Curatorial Remark number 3)
label: Inscriptions
content: The inscription inside the foot is cast in seal characters reading from right to left thus: [Chn]
label: Inscriptions
content: Transcribed into "k'ai-shu" in the usual order it reads: [Chn], and may be translated "Wang Tzu-fan made [this] in the K'ang-hsi period of the Ch'ing dynasty."
label: Inscriptions
content: Transcribed into "k'ai-shu" in the usual order it reads: [Chn], and may be translated "Wang Tzu-fan made [this] in the K'ang-hsi period of the Ch'ing dynasty."
label: Label
content: During the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), the display of ancient objects as well as contemporary ones made in an archaistic style was considered a sign of learning and refined taste. The shape and decoration of this vase, including the mask-like faces on the base, reproduce aspects of a Bronze Age ritual vessel called a gu.
label: Provenance
content: To 1911
label: Provenance
content: Riu Cheng Chai, to 1911 [1]
label: Provenance
content: From 1911 to 1919
label: Provenance
content: Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Riu Cheng Chai, in 1911 [2]
label: Provenance
content: From 1920
label: Provenance
content: Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]
label: Provenance
content: Notes:
label: Provenance
content: [1] See Summary, Price of Art Objects, Second Chinese Shipment, 1911, pg. 3, No. X57, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.
label: Provenance
content: [2] See note 1.
label: Provenance
content: [3] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.
label: Collection
content: Freer Gallery of Art Collection
label: Exhibition History
content: Looking Out, Looking In: Art in Late Imperial China (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)
label: Exhibition History
content: Gold: The Asian Touch (September 10, 2005 to February 20, 2006)
label: Exhibition History
content: Worshipping the Ancestors: Chinese Commemorative Portraits (June 17 to September 9, 2001)
label: Previous custodian or owner
content: Riu Cheng Chai (C.L. Freer source)
label: Previous custodian or owner
content: Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
place: label: Origin
content: China
topic: label: Topic
content: cloisonné
label: Topic
content: flower
label: Topic
content: Qing dynasty (1644 - 1911)
label: Topic
content: Kangxi reign (1662 - 1722)
label: Topic
content: China
label: Topic
content: Chinese Art
label: Topic
content: Charles Lang Freer collection
setName: label: On View
content: West Building (Freer Gallery of Art), Gallery 13: Looking Out, Looking In: Art in Late Imperial China
label: Related Online Resources
content: Google Arts & Culture
label: See more items in
content: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Charles Lang Freer
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: F1911.145a-c
objectType: label: Type
content: Vessel
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: Cloisonné
label: Dimensions
content: H: 30.8 cm (12 1/8 in)