Chinese
The Museum's collection of Chinese art, spanning 5,000 years, has grown from the approximately 130 works given by founder Ralph Norton to more than 700 objects. His acquisitions form two outstanding bookends to the Chinese Collection: ancient jade and bronze, and imperial jade and hardstone carvings dating from the Qing dynasty (1644-1912 ) to the Republic period (1912- 1949). A seminal early work from Norton’s gifts includes a 3,200 year-old cast bronze wine ewer (gong) in the form of a dragon, which is a composite of many powerful creatures – tiger, bear, elephant, bird, and antelope. A seminal late work in the collection is an alms bowl with seven buddhas, commissioned in 1777 by the Qianlong Emperor who reigned from 1736 until 1795.
Over the years, Ralph Norton's gifts have been supplemented with other significant works of art illustrating the aesthetic values, technical achievements and cultural beliefs of this vast country. These works include: a painting by Ming dynasty master Tang Yin (1470–1523), titled The Nine Bends River, which links the personal qualities of man with Confucian moral values; one of the world’s finest extant pairs of 17th-century lacquered cabinets (1662–1700) made during the reign of the Qing dynasty emperor Kangxi; and Five Quail, a 13th-century painting influenced by one of China’s best known quail painters, Li An-Zhong (Southern Song dynasty, circa 1120-1160) that sends a subtle message about life in unstable times.
Chinese Collection Highlights
Tripod Wine Vessel (Jia) with Cover, circa 1200 BCE, Shang Dynasty, Anyang Period
Pendant (Pei) in the Form of a Rabbit, 900s BCE, Western Zhou Dynasty
Cup and Saucer, circa 954 – early 1000s, Five Dynasties Period – early Northern Song Dynasty
Five Quail, circa 1200 – 1276, Southern Song – early Yuan Dynasty
Roof-Ridge Fascia Panels with Molded and Applied Decoration of Dragons among Peonies, circa 1550s, Ming Dynasty, possibly Jiajing Reign
Tang Yin 唐寅 (Chinese, 1470-1523), The Nine Bends River, Ming Dynasty
Zhao Changguo 趙 昌 國 (Chinese, active 16th century), Three Taoist Star Lords Playing Weiqi in Autumn Mountains, 1500s, Ming Dynasty
Zhou Kai 周凱 (Chinese, 1779-1837), Landscape, 1819, Qing Dynasty, Jiaqing Reign
Zhou Kai 周凱 (Chinese, 1779-1837), Landscape, 1819, Qing Dynasty, Jiaqing Reign
Zhou Kai 周凱 (Chinese, 1779-1837), Landscape, 1819, Qing Dynasty, Jiaqing Reign
Zhou Kai 周凱 (Chinese, 1779-1837), Landscape, 1819, Qing Dynasty, Jiaqing Reign
Zhang Yuan (Chinese, 1648-1724), Walking with a Staff in Autumn Groves, 1722, Qing Dynasty
Shangguan Zhou (Chinese, 1665-1750), Stormy Landscape, early to mid-18th century, Qing Dynasty
Chime Stones for Individual Mounting (Te-Qing), 1761, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Reign
Dish with Rim in the Shape of a Mallow Flower, circa 1127 – 1200, Early Southern Song Dynasty
Flask in the Form of a Wine Jar (Hu) with Engraved Decoration, circa 50 – 1 BCE, Western Han Dynasty
Garden Stand, 1573 – 1620, Ming Dynasty, Wanli Reign
Jar for Paintbrushes or Handscrolls, circa 1628 – 1644, Ming Dynasty, probably Chongzhen Reign
Mantel Garniture, circa 1725 – 1735, Qing Dynasty, Yongzheng Reign
Plate with Implements of a Money Changer, circa 1750, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Period
Wine Ewer (Gong), circa 1200 – 1050 BCE, Shang Dynasty, Anyang Period
Pendant (Pei) in the Form of a Dragon, circa 475 – 400 BCE, Eastern Zhou Dynasty, early Warring States Period
Hibiscus-Form Brush Washer, 1200 –1300, Jin Dynasty – Yuan Dynasty
“Shonzui”-Style Gourd-Shaped Sake Flask (Tokkuri), circa 1621 – 1644, Ming Dynasty, Tianqi – Chongzhen Reign
One of a Pair of Lacquered Cabinets, 1662 –1700, Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Reign
Alms Bowl with Seven Buddhas, 1777, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Reign
Zhou Kai 周凱 (Chinese, 1779-1837), Landscape, 1819, Qing Dynasty, Jiaqing Reign
Zhou Kai 周凱 (Chinese, 1779-1837), Landscape, 1819, Qing Dynasty, Jiaqing Reign
Zhou Kai 周凱 (Chinese, 1779-1837), Landscape, 1819, Qing Dynasty, Jiaqing Reign
Zhou Kai 周凱 (Chinese, 1779-1837), Landscape, 1819, Qing Dynasty, Jiaqing Reign
Jiang Song (Chinese, active 1490-circa 1563), Seated in Solitude Beside a Stream, 16th century, Ming Dynasty
Attributed to Xing Xian-zhi (Chinese, active early-mid-17th century), The Dragon-Taming Luohan, circa 1600 – 1620, Ming Dynasty, Wanli Reign
Bracelets Depicting Dragons in Clouds, late 19th – early 20th century, Late Qing Dynasty
Circular Box with a Scene of Taoist Immortals, probably 1368 – 1398, Early Ming Dynasty, probably Hongwu Reign
Dragon Jar with Bird Cover, circa 1200 – 1300, Southern Song – Yuan Dynasty
Flower Vase in the Form of a Cong, circa 13th – early 14th century, Southern Song Dynasty – Yuan Dynasty
Hong Punch Bowl with a Scene of the Canton Waterfront, circa 1780, Qing Dynasty, Qianlong Reign
Lion and Grapevine Mirror, late 7th – early 8th century, Tang Dynasty
Owl Plaque, circa 1200 BCE, Shang Dynasty, Anyang Period
The Lantern Festival (Shangyuan Jie), circa 1592 – 1620, Late Ming Dynasty, Wanli Reign
Six-Lobed Bowl with Incised Peonies, circa 1127 – 1162, Early Southern Song Dynasty
