Pole finial in the form of a dragon’s head

Finial pole in the form of a ferocious dragon head with bulging eyes and curled snout breathing forth a column of cloud swirls forming a mushroom-cap terminal.

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Historical period(s)
Yuan dynasty, late 13th-late 14th century
Medium
Bronze with gilding
Dimensions
H x Diam: 26.7 x 13.1 cm (10 1/2 x 5 3/16 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Bequest of Katharine Graham
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F2011.2a-c
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Furniture and Furnishing, Metalwork
Type

Finial

Keywords
China, dragon, Yuan dynasty (1279 - 1368)
Provenance

To 1970
Eugene Meyer (1875-1959) and Agnes E. Meyer (1887-1970) [1]

From 1970 to 2001
Katharine Graham (1917-2001), Washington DC, by descent from her mother, Agnes E. Meyer [2]

From 2001 to 2002
Estate of Katharine Graham [3]

From 2002
Freer Gallery of Art, bequeathed by Katharine Graham [4]

Notes:

[1] See object file, Collections Management Office.

[2] See note 1.

[3] See note 1.

[4] See note 1.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Estate of Katharine Graham
Eugene I. Meyer Jr. 1875-1959
Agnes E. Meyer 1887-1970
Katharine Meyer Graham 1917-2001

Description

Finial pole in the form of a ferocious dragon head with bulging eyes and curled snout breathing forth a column of cloud swirls forming a mushroom-cap terminal.

Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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