{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/2/context.json","@type":"sc:Manifest","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da6023d2-c51f-4014-917a-919d06667372/manifest","label":"gaa_ancestral-altar-spill-vase_b61_b61","metadata":[{"label":"Identifier","value":"gaa_ancestral-altar-spill-vase_b61_b61"},{"label":"Citation","value":"Object Name, Date Original (if known), GettDigital: Asian Art Collection, Special Collections / Musselman Library, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Access Date, Link to Item"},{"label":"Repository","value":"Special Collections and College Archives, Musselman Library, Gettysburg College"},{"label":"Inventory Number","value":"B61"},{"label":"Part of","value":["Asian Art GettDigital Collection"]},{"label":"Provenance","value":"The Estate of Prof. Frank Kramer; Correspondences between Dr. Frank Kramer and Mr. Stanley Charles Nott, President of The House of Jade, Ltd., New York, regarding this vessel, in Folder \"Scrapbook #2 Jade (Kramer's box 5, file #26): - March 20, 1957, Dr. Kramer wrote this memo, \"Dr. Stanley Charles Nott, President of the House of Jade, Ltd., 955 Park Av., New York 28, N.Y., telephone between 11 and 12 noon this morning, to say that they had just received a letter from an attorney settling an estate, saying, in part: 'We note the price given for this object was in the vicinity of $7000.00. We are now winding up the estate of ------and would like to receive the best cash offer in the vicinity of $2000.00.' Dr. Nott said it was sold for $6885.00. It was the ancestral Altar Spill Vase illustrated in color in his Voices from the Flowery Kingdom, page 135, plate LXXI...he paid originally paid $4500.00 for the vase. (Of course at $2000 this would be a very fine bargain.) He said he did not know what condition the piece was in, but when he sold it it was in perfect condition. He also said that he would make the bid for us if we wished it, and would have the piece brought to this place for examination, and the understanding was that the piece is in perfect condition, and the cash would be made on that condition. He said, further, that even if an offer were made, he was not sure that they would sell it. Possibly they are only 'fishing' around. I said I would talk it over with Mrs. Kramer, when she returned from the beauty parlor, and would telephone him. After she returned, we talked it over and could not see $2000 available... So I called Dr. Nott on the phone and told him we would have to turn down the offer, because we did not have the cash now. I told him we had bought a new car. He then offered to lend s the money without interest, he said he had it available. Mrs. Kramer was at the 'Y' by that time, and so I told him I would have to find how she felt on that. He suggested sending a wire, which I did and mentioned Nov. 1st. Dr. Nott had said that if we did not take it, he would contact General Ralph Tobin of Washington, who is second on his list for favors of this kind.\" - March 26, 1957, from Mr. Nott, \"This note is to congratulate you upon a wonderful purchase for...the Ancestral Altar Spill Vase...It is in perfect condition and I have personally supervised the packing of it for shipment to you via Railway Express Collect and I understand it will be picked up by them tomorrow. Mrs. Nott and I feel truly delighted that we have been the means for you both to make such an excellent addition to your Collection...\" -March 28, 1957, from Dr. Kramer,\"...It beats the cake, what a difference it makes, when you send an express package COLLECT!...It would be interesting to know where this particular type of jade came from. If you know, and know anything more about the history of the piece, it would be well to have that on record, for future generations, here at the college. Let me say again how much we appreciate your making this possible for us, and for the college in the future.\" -April 2nd, 1957, from Mr. Nott, \"We were pleased to hear that you have received the Vase safely and that you both are proud to possess it. I look upon it, as you know, as quite an outstanding example of the type of creation of the Yuan Dynasty and it excellently represents the Jade used during that period, which the Chinese obtained chiefly from the upper regions of the Yurungkash River of Khotan in eastern Turkestan. The cloud-like effect of the graining of the mineral makes the object an excellent medium to demonstrate that which the Chinese felt was apparent in the cloud design of the havens and which they immortalized in the effects obtained in their T'ang and Sung paintings. This piece was the prized possession in 1909 of Mrs. Chauncey Blair and we understood from the source from which we originally acquired it, to have been an heirloom of her husband's father. However, as you are aware, the human relations of Jades are not always as infallible as the Jades themselves and we have really never been particularly interested in the history of those human relationships. The Vase was originally made as a 'spill container' for Altar use and it were kept the Bamboo 'prophecy slips'-these were Bamboo Rods upon which were inscribed chapter and verse of the Li Ki or other Chinese literary compilations relative to forecasting and fortune predictions. The supplicator to the Gods would draw out one of these 'lot sticks' and from the translation of the meaning of the particular classic 'selection' made would learn from the Priest how successfully the prayers and supplications had been received by the Gods. This probably represents the earliest type of 'fortune-telling' art known\" -April 4th, 1957, from Dr. Kramer,\"...I have often wondered just why the word 'spill' was applied to certain vases. Certain ones had a rim arrangement which suggested pouring some fluid, but others had no such suggestion, like the one we recently got. Was this one ever used for pouring out a liquid? From your explanation, I take it that this was an important temple to have such an elegant vase. Is that a correct completer this vase in the Yuan days?\" -April 6th, 1957,\"...in reply to your queries there is no doubt that any vase from of Chinese origin which were intended for use in the manner of a 'jug' always had a rim arrangement which suggested the pouring of fluid as you so correctly observed. The Temple Spill Vase you now possess was formed solely as a reception container for the 'prophecy spills' and you will find the cover so formed, in depth, that the protruding spill ends are of sufficient length for easy access of selection. There is no question in my mind that this particular vase was a temple altar accoutrement and probably one used in the Imperial sanctuaries which in the Yuan days would have been located in the environs of a capital city. The period of time taken to create such a vase, in those days, would approximate a similar period to a creation of like dimensions in succeeding reigns in that the tools used by the cutters have seemingly remained constant from the Chou Dynasty to the close of the Ch'ien Lung reign. This Vase therefore would appear to have been a life times work for a master carver...\""},{"label":"Genre","value":["Artifacts"]},{"label":"Object Location","value":"J.16"},{"label":"Date","value":"D:00 M:00 Y:1800 - D:00 M:00 Y:2000"},{"label":"Date Original","value":"19th-20th century CE"},{"label":"Era","value":["Attributed to the Qing dynasty"]},{"label":"Measurement","value":"Height: 12 inches; Height: 14 inches on special wood stand; Width: 6 inches; Thickness: 0.75 in."},{"label":"Medium","value":["Jade, mottled, almost opaque","Jade"]},{"label":"Country of Origin","value":["China"]},{"label":"Description","value":"This jade altar spill vase has the strong archaistic flavor of ancient bronze vessels. It was attributed to the creation of the Yuan dynasty and excellently represents the jade used during that period, which the Chinese obtained chiefly from the upper regions of the Yurungkash River of Khotan in eastern Turkestan. According to Mr. Stanley Charles Nott, the vase was originally made as a 'spill container' for altar use. This vase may have functioned later solely as a reception container for 'prophecy spills.'* The cover has protruding spill ends of sufficient length for easy access of selection. The cloud-like texture of the stone makes the vessel an excellent medium to demonstrate the Chinese fondness for the cloud motif that evokes T'ang and Song paintings. Together, the stone's cloudy texture, the vase's flattened and undecorated form, and the simplicity of the overall design convey a sense of the ethereal that is perfectly appropriate for an altar object. There is a consistency in the use of the fungus and cloud motifs. The fungus, an all time favorite motif, is echoed on the lid and at the loose ring handles that join the incurvate neck. The vase lip, cover rim, and base are finished by a delicate key-fret motif. When appearing together on one piece, they evoke the perpetual quest of the Chinese for immortality. The use of these forms and motifs from antiquity is a splendid example of the aesthetic essence of Chinese art, the evolved maturity of style, and the continuity of jade carving techniques."},{"label":"Title","value":"Ancestral altar spill vase"},{"label":"Rights","value":"Materials available through GettDigital encompass a wide range of works, many of which are in the public domain. However, some items may still be protected by copyright or other intellectual property rights. Users are responsible for determining the copyright status of materials and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws when reproducing or publishing these works. Items in our GettDigital Collections are for educational use. For assistance in understanding rights, obtaining permissions, or requesting files for publication or research purposes, please contact us at <a href=\"www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/ask-an-archivist\">www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/ask-an-archivist</a>"},{"label":"Reference URL","value":"http://cdm16274.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p4016coll6/id/1945"}],"description":"Ancestral altar spill vase","sequences":[{"@type":"sc:Sequence","canvases":[{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da6023d2-c51f-4014-917a-919d06667372/canvas/_1","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"Ancestral altar spill vase","height":2948,"width":1612,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da6023d2-c51f-4014-917a-919d06667372/full/full/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","format":"image/jpeg","service":{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/context.json","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da6023d2-c51f-4014-917a-919d06667372","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":1024,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":2948,"width":1612},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da6023d2-c51f-4014-917a-919d06667372/canvas/_1","metadata":[]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da6023d2-c51f-4014-917a-919d06667372/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}}]}],"thumbnail":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da6023d2-c51f-4014-917a-919d06667372/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","logo":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/logo"}