Object: Toiletry box (lian) with cover F1946.11

Classification: Vessel

Historical period(s): Han dynasty, 2nd-1st century BCE

Object Date: 2nd-1st century BCE

Medium: Bronze

Dimension(s): H x W: 12 x 15.2 cm (4 3/4 x 6 in)

Origin: China

Credit Line: Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

Collection: Freer Gallery of Art Collection

Accession Number: F1946.11

Provenance: From 1941 to 1946
C. T. Loo & Company, New York from April 1941 [1]

From 1946
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from C. T. Loo & Company on March 18, 1946 [2]

Notes:

[1] See C. T. Loo's stockcard no. 87101: "Bronze round box CHIN with cover decorated in cut in designs of fighting animals, and two bands of lozenges around rim and foot. cover with a loop. knob raising in the center of a four petal flower and, fighting animal turquoise patina. Late Chou," C. T. Loo & Frank Caro Archive, Musée Guimet, Paris, copy in object file. In April 1941, the object was brought to the Freer Gallery for examination and later returned to C. T. Loo. The same year it was taken by Loo to Alfred F. Pillsbury but subsequently was returned. In December 1945, the vase was sent again to the Freer Gallery.

[2] See C. T. Loo's invoice, dated March 18, 1946, copy in object file.

Previous owner(s): C.T. Loo & Company (1914-1948)

Description: Smooth dark green patina with incised design on both cover and body. Supported on three ball feet.

Curatorial Remarks

1. Bought from C.T. Loo and Company, New York. For price, see Freer Gallery of Art Purchase List after 1920.

2. (A.G. Wenley, 1954) Attribution changed from 6th-7th century to Han dynasty.

3. (J.A. Pope, 1968) Attributes this to late 2nd - 1st century B.C., Han dynasty, and redesignates this object from "toilet box with cover" to Lien.

4. (J. Smith per Keith Wilson, 7/1/2008) Vessel added as secondary classification.

5. (S. Allee, 10 November 2008) Changed Title from "Lien" to "Toiletry box (lian) with cover." Changed Object Name from "Vessel (lian)" to "Vessel."

Published References: Published References are currently unavailable.

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Toiletry box (lian) with cover

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