Mirror with floral roundels

Historical period(s)
Sui dynasty, 581-618
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam x D: 18.5 x 1.3 cm (7 5/16 x 1/2 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1944.7
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Mirror
Type

Mirror

Keywords
China, inscription, Sui dynasty (581 - 618)
Provenance

From at least 1933
Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (1871-1941), New York and "The Chimneys," Sands Point, Port Washington, Long Island, from at least 1933 [1]

From at least 1944
Tonying and Company, New York from at least February 1944 [2]

From 1944
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Tonying and Company, New York on February 7, 1944 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Umehara Sueji, Shina-Kodo Seikwa (Selected Relics of Ancient Chinese Bronzes from Collections in Europe and America): Part II Ancient Mirrors (Osaka: Yamanaka & Co., 1933), vol. 2, pl. 121.

[2] See Tonying & Company’s invoice, dated February 7, 1944, in which the mirror figures under no. B. 54: “Mirror, painted lacquer on bronze / Sui” copy in object file. The acquisition was approved by C. G. Abbot, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, on February 4, 1944, see “List of Objects Contemplated for Purchase by the Freer Gallery of Art,” copy in object file.

[3] See invoice cited in note 2. See also A. G. Wenley’s letter to C. F. Yau, Tonying & Co., dated February 5, 1944, in which Wenley confirms the purchase of the mirror along with seven other mirrors from the Holmes collection (see records for F1944.3-F1944.6, F1944.8 -F1944.10).

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Mrs. Christian R. Holmes 1871-1941
Tonying and Company established 1902

Published References
  • Sueji Umehara. (Obei shucho) Shina kodo seika [Selected Relics of Ancient Chinese Bronzes from Collections in Europe and America]. 7 vols., Kyoto and Osaka, 1933-1935. part II, pl. 121.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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