Tea or Kumiss Bowl

Historical period(s)
19th-mid 20th century
Medium
Silver and wood
Dimensions
H x Diam (overall): 4.9 x 11.3 cm (1 15/16 x 4 7/16 in)
Geography
Mongolia
Credit Line
Gift of Ambassador and Mrs. Donald C. Johnson
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Accession Number
S1999.13
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Metalwork, Vessel
Type

Bowl

Keywords
Mongolia, punching, tea
Provenance

To 1995
Unknown seller, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to 1995 [1]

From 1995 to 1999
Ambassador and Mrs. Donald C. Johnson, Arlington, VA, purchased from an unknown seller in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in 1995 [2]

From 1999
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, given by Ambassador and Mrs. Donald C. Johnson in 1999

Notes:

[1] The object was acquired by Ambassador and Mrs. Johnson during his term as United States ambassador to Mongolia (see Curatorial Remark 1, Jenny F. So, February 23, 1999, in the object record).

According to an excerpt from a letter (dated April 9, 1999) from Ambassador Johnson to Vidya Dehejia: "We bought [this bowl and S1999.10 & S1999.11] from a man who came to us at the Sunday Market (we believe it was the fall of 1995) and told us he had some bowls to sell, but didn't want to show them in the market. We visited his apartment in Ulaanbaatar and fell in love with [S1999.10] at first sight. He knew we wanted to get them for our collection, too, so it took a long time to strike a deal" (see Provenance Remark 1 in the object record).

[2] See note 1.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Ambassador and Mrs. Donald C. Johnson

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