Jades for Life and Death

Classification: Jewelry and Ornament

Historical period(s): Qing dynasty, 1644-1911

Object Date: 1644-1911

Medium: Jade

Dimension(s): H x W: 2.4 x 4.5 cm (15/16 x 1 3/4 in)

Origin: China

Credit Line: Gift of Charles Lang Freer

Collection: Freer Gallery of Art Collection

Accession Number: F1912.53

Provenance: To 1912
Abel William Bahr (1877-1959), London, to 1912 [1]

From 1912 to 1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Abel William Bahr, London, in 1912 [2]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [3]

Notes:

[1] See Original Miscellaneous List, S.I. 362, pg. 108, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives. Abel William Bahr (1877-1959) was a collector and dealer born in Shanghai, China. After he left Shanghai in 1910, he lived, at various points in time, in London, Montreal, and Ridgefield, Connecticut. He established a gallery in New York City in 1920.

[2] See note 1.

[3] 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.

Previous owner(s): Abel William Bahr (C.L. Freer source) (1877-1959)
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

Curatorial Remarks

1. Bought from A.W. Bahr, London. For price, see Original Miscellaneous List, p. 108.
2. Original attribution: Han. See further, S.I. 362, Appendix IV.
3. (A.G.W., 1945) Ch'ing dynasty.
4. (Undated folder sheet note) Sp. G. is 2.979. Nephrite.
5. (W.B. Trousdale, 1964) Ch'ing dynasty. Probably intended for use as a pendant; the shape may be derived from late Chou and Han jade sword guards.
6. (H.E. Buckman, 1964) The Envelope file contained no further information, and has now been destroyed.
7. (J. Smith per Stephen Allee, 8/1/2008) Secondary classification Jewelry and Ornament added.

Published References: Published References are currently unavailable.

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