Ritual wine ewer (<em>gong</em>) with masks (<em>taotie</em>), dragons, and real animals
date: label: Date
content: ca. 1100-1050 BCE
label: Period
content: Probably late Shang dynasty, late Anyang period
notes: label: Description
content: Ewer with design that incorporates many stylized birds and animals. No inscription.
label: Marks
content: Stickers and painted inscription on bottom of lid read:
label: Marks
content: "K./No 266" (white sticker with red border)
label: Marks
content: "266" (round white sticker with black ink)
label: Marks
content: Written in red ink on bottom of lid:
label: Marks
content: "L.1707.B"
label: Marks
content: Written in red ink on bottom of body"
label: Marks
content: Written in red ink on bottom of body"
label: Label
content: This extraordinary vessel bristles with life, from the birds at the front and on the handles, to the humans wrapped in snakes on the back legs. Most likely made in southern China, it seems to offer a view of a spirit world in constant movement and flux.
label: Provenance
content: From at least 1926 to 1961
label: Provenance
content: Eugene Meyer (1875-1959) and Agnes E. Meyer (1887-1970), Washington, DC, and Mt. Kisco, NY, from at least 1926 [1]
label: Provenance
content: From 1961
label: Provenance
content: Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer in 1961 [2]
label: Provenance
content: Notes:
label: Provenance
content: [1] See H. d'Ardenne de Tizac, L'Art Chinois Classique (Paris: Henri Laurens, 1926), p. 25, pls. 6-7.
label: Provenance
content: [2] See Agnes Meyer's Deed of Gift, dated December 21, 1961, copy in object file.
label: Collection
content: Freer Gallery of Art Collection
label: Exhibition History
content: Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings (February 25, 2023 to April 28, 2024)
label: Exhibition History
content: Ancient Chinese Jades and Bronzes (November 20, 2010 to January 3, 2016)
label: Exhibition History
content: Ancient Chinese Bronzes (May 9, 1993 to February 10, 1997)
label: Exhibition History
content: Chinese Art (February 18, 1983 to April 1, 1987)
label: Exhibition History
content: Chinese Art (June 15, 1982 to September 24, 1982)
label: Exhibition History
content: Chinese Art (March 15, 1982 to June 15, 1982)
label: Exhibition History
content: Chinese Art (March 9, 1981 to March 12, 1982)
label: Exhibition History
content: Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Memorial Exhibition (September 25, 1971 to October 2, 1972)
label: Exhibition History
content: Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)
label: Exhibition History
content: Ausstellung Chinesischer Kunst (January 12 to April 2, 1929)
label: Previous custodian or owner
content: Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer
place: label: Origin
content: China
topic: label: Topic
content: casting
label: Topic
content: metal
label: Topic
content: bronze
label: Topic
content: animal
label: Topic
content: Shang dynasty (ca. 1600 - ca. 1050 BCE)
label: Topic
content: Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE)
label: Topic
content: wine
label: Topic
content: China
label: Topic
content: Chinese Art
label: Topic
content: taotie
setName: 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 Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: F1961.33a-b
objectType: label: Type
content: Vessel
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: Bronze
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D: 32.2 × 32.2 × 15.7 cm (12 11/16 × 12 11/16 × 6 3/16 in)