Spouted vessel (he) in the form of an elephant with masks (taotie), dragons, and snakes

National Museum of Asian Art

Object Details

Description
Ceremonial covered vessel, type huo, in the form of an elephant. Wooden stand. Surface: a light green patina. Decoration: cast in low relief; final in the round.
Provenance
To 1936
Yamanaka and Company, Boston. [1]
From 1936
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from Yamanaka and Company, Boston. [2]
Notes:
[1] Curatorial Remark 1 in the object record.
[2] See note 1.
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Exhibition History
Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings (February 25, 2023 to April 28, 2024)
Ancient Chinese Bronzes (May 9, 1993 to February 10, 1997)
Chinese Art (February 18, 1983 to April 1, 1987)
Chinese Art (June 15, 1982 to September 24, 1982)
Chinese Art (March 15, 1982 to June 15, 1982)
Chinese Art (March 9, 1981 to March 12, 1982)
Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)
Chinese Bronze, Jade, Marble (March 1, 1957 to January 1, 1963)
Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 14 and 15 (February 25, 1956 to March 1, 1957)
Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1955 (October 24, 1955 to February 25, 1956)
Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Jade and Bronze (August 26, 1955 to October 25, 1955)
Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1945 (January 9, 1945 to August 20, 1955)
Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1944 (December 13, 1944 to May 7, 1946)
Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Metalwork, 1943 (March 22, 1943 to December 13, 1944)
Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Metalwork (March 14, 1931 to March 22, 1943)
Previous custodian or owner
Yamanaka and Co. 山中商会 (1917-1965)
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
ca. 1100 BCE
Period
Late Shang dynasty, late Anyang period
Accession Number
F1936.6a-b
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
Vessel
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
H x W x D (overall): 17.2 x 10.7 x 21.4 cm (6 3/4 x 4 3/16 x 8 7/16 in)
Origin
Anyang, probably Henan province, China
Related Online Resources
Google Cultural Institute
See more items in
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Topic
casting
metal
bronze
dragon
elephant
Shang dynasty (ca. 1600 - ca. 1050 BCE)
Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE)
wine
mask
China
Chinese Art
Record ID
fsg_F1936.6a-b
Metadata Usage (text)
Usage conditions apply
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye31d065109-ffb8-4d3f-ba49-7938b4f3f235
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