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166.
Lai B241.  Ornamental Head or Mask. Tang. Chinese.

[[left margin]] SMITHSONIAN. 673 [[/left margin]]

A vigorously modeled dragon's-head, in high relief, facing front, the mane curling up at the sides and begin in waveform and the mouth supporting a swinging, pendant wreath, -- much like the loop of a European door-knocker, -- the wreath in turn encircling below a lotus blossom on which reposes the coveted jewel of omnipotence, just below the monster's jaws. The whole richly gilded, the gold retaining its fresh brilliancy over the greater part of the surface, other areas showing a greenish patina and grayish earthy encrustments.
From the Bing collection.
Height, 14"; width, 8 3/8-8 5/8".

Purchased from Lai-Yuan & Co., New York, Personal Voucher #9, December, 1915 -- Check to the order of Eugene Meyer, Jr., $4,000.00, plus express. 
$4,010.00

Lai 136. One Bronze Sarcophagus. Wei. Chinese.

[[left margin]] SMITHSONIAN. 674 [[/left margin]]

In several sections, all of gold bronze, or bronze richly gilded; (possibly for the ashes of some pet bird or animal). A cinerary urn of oblong form, and higher at one end than the other, has a cover in the shape of the half of a bamboo trunk section, and reposes within a larger receptacle similarly shaped but more ornate. This outer sarcophagus is adorned on one side with a dragon, on the other with a tiger, both in relief and poised upon clouds; and at one end, also in relief, is the "red bird of the morning" (which is to face the east), and at the other end the serpent which is to be toward the west. On the cover are beaded moldings and rosettes in relief. The sarcophagus rests upon a sort of catafalque, oblong, with a figure molded in the round supporting the upper platform at each corner, the figures being upright at full length with a shoulder under the long plinth. The catafalque has a lotus base and the whole is supported on a balconied table. (Lid or urn repaired.)
From Bing collection.
Height, 14 3/8"; length (of table) 13"; width (of table), 6 3/4";length of outer sarcophagus lid, 11"; or inner lid, 7 3/8"; length of catafalque (at base), 11 3/8".

Purchased from Lai-Yuan & Co., New York, Personal Voucher #9, December, 1915 -- Check to the order of Eugene Meyer, Jr., $7000.00, plus express, $7,010.00