Upper part broken away from the base and repaired.
Surface: a variable gray and green patina with areas of malachite green incrustation.
Decoration: in low relief and engraved: projecting ridges (one broken off); forged inscription. Inscriptions on cover and stand.
Provenance:
Imperial Household collection of Prince Kung of China, Beijing [1]
To 1913
Yamanaka & Company, to 1913 [2]
From 1913 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased at the sale of the Prince Kung Collection (by order of Yamanaka and Company), American Art Association, New York February 27-28 and March 1, 1913 [3]
From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [4]
Notes:
[1] The Imperial Household collection of Prince Kung was under the authority of Prince Kung Ching Wang (Yixin) (1833-1898), and, later, Prince Puwei (Prince Gongxian) (1880-1936), before Yamanaka and Company acquired it. See Illustrated Catalogue of the Remarkable Collection of the Imperial Prince Kung of China, A Wonderful Treasury of Celestial Art: recently acquired by the widely known firm of Yamanaka & Company (New York: American Art Association, 1913). See also, Original Bronze List, S.I. 391, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.
[2] See note 1.
[3] See note 1.
[4] 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.
Collection:
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Previous custodian or owner:
Prince Kung Ching Wang (1833-1898)
Yamanaka and Co. 山中商会 (1917-1965) (C.L. Freer source)
