Ancient Chinese Art: The Ernest Erickson Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Ancient Chinese Art: The Ernest Erickson Collection in The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Hearn, Maxwell K.
1987
96 pages
75 illustrations
8.5 x 11 in
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China is a vast and populous country, moving rapidly on all fronts to prepare itself for life in the twenty-first century. Heir to a resplendent ancient culture, modern China is following a unique developmental path that evolves from this long and rich cultural tradition. Our understanding of the transformations in China today must be predicated upon an appreciation of this precious cultural legacy.

The challenge for The Metropolitan Museum of Art is to represent this colossal culture by the coherent display of aesthetic masterpieces that recapture the great moments of China's past. Collections such as that at the Metropolitan have grown under generations of collectors, curators, and changing fashions.

The Erickson Collection contains works of outstanding quality that range through different media and across the whole span of ancient China, from the Neolithic to the T'ang period. Ernest Erickson, through his collection, has created a vital memorial that fills in gaps in the Museum's existing holdings. We are honored and privileged to help present this wonderful gift, commemorated by this catalogue.

Spouted Water Container (He), Bronze, China
China
late 14th century BCE
Rectangular wine container (fangyi), Bronze, China
China
13th–11th century BCE
Wine beaker (gu), Bronze, China
China
13th–11th century BCE
Wine pouring vessel (Gong)	, Bronze inlaid with turquoise, China
China
12th century BCE
Wine ladle (dou), Bronze, China
China
12th–11th century BCE
Lobed tripod cauldron (Liding), Bronze inlaid with black pigment, China
China
12th–11th century BCE
Rectangular cauldron (Fangding), Bronze, China
China
13th–11th century BCE
Wine container with handle (you), Bronze, China
China
11th–10th century BCE
Wine vessel ( Zun), Bronze, China
China
13th–10th century BCE
Spouted Water Vessel (Yi), Bronze, China
China
7th–6th century BCE
Grain Serving Vessel (Dou), Bronze, China
China
5th–3rd century BCE
Fantastic winged feline, Bronze, China
China
4th–3rd century BCE
Reclining tiger, Bronze, China
China
4th–3rd century BCE
Heating vessel, Bronze, China
China
9th century
Wine container (hu ), Bronze, China
China
2nd–1st century BCE
Vase, Bronze, China
China
Six-lobed box, Silver, China
China
8th century
Octagonal cup with ring handle, Silver with parcel gilding, China
China
8th century
Mirror with four felines, Bronze, China
China
4th–3rd century BCE
Mirror with eight-point design, Bronze with black patina, China
China
4th–3rd century BCE
Showing 20 of 134

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Hearn, Maxwell K. 1987. Ancient Chinese Art: The Ernest Erickson Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: Metropolitan museum of art.