Changing Opinions about Authenticity and Date "Chinese Buddhist Sculpture in a New Light" at the Freer Gallery of Art

Forgery and mistaken attribution—pervasive problems for art institutions around the world—will soon be faced head-on in a new exhibition of 6th to 20th-century ivory, metal and stone Chinese Buddhist sculptures at the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery of Art (Independence Avenue at 12th Street S.W.) "Chinese Buddhist Sculpture in a New Light" will be on view April 14, 2002–May 3, 2003.

As a result of new research, several stunning sculptures that have never before been displayed will be on view, including some that date after the Tang dynasty (618–907) and represent the fascinating, but often neglected period of later Chinese Buddhist art. A complementary exhibit featuring some of the Freer's major pan-Asian Buddhist masterpieces can be seen in a nearby gallery room.

The Freer's collection of Chinese Buddhist sculpture-arguably one of the best in the Western world-was for the most part acquired during the first half of the 20th century when China's depressed economy fed the antiquities trade. Collectors were able to buy stellar Chinese artifacts that were hitherto little known in the West. But many of these sculptures were removed from Buddhist religious sites without proper documentation as to their provenance within China. Furthermore some sculptures were altered before sale by re-cutting of details or by cleaning, which removed their brightly painted or gilded surface decoration. Worst of all, the marketability of Chinese Buddhist sculptures led to the development of a lively trade in forgeries, a few of which were of such high quality that they entered major collections including those at the Freer.

Until recently, difficulties in scholarly exchange between East and West and the paucity of well-documented comparisons outside China perpetuated confusion as to the dating and attribution of some Buddhist sculptures. Establishing which sculptures were real devotional objects and which had been manufactured for sale was often problematic. Now, however, it is possible for Western scholars to visit likely sites from which the objects in their collections might have been removed and make comparisons with similar sculptures that remain there. Furthermore, access to a greater number of similar objects whose provenance is well established or archaeologically confirmed, as well as improved methods of scientific analysis have also led to more accurate dating of these Chinese Buddhist sculptures. In this exhibition the curators provide contemporary opinions about the objects and review the sometimes dramatically changed opinions about the objects that have been offered over the past few decades.

Extensive wall text in this exhibition explains how curators have used stylistic analysis, including knowledge of regional variations affecting style, as well as scrutiny for ambiguities, distortions and incongruities to determine the authenticity or correct some previously erroneous dates given to the sculptures. The role of scientific dating techniques is also addressed.

Objects on view include:
• two stelae, both originally dated to the Northern Qi dynasty (550–577); one of which is now considered to be genuine and the other fake
• two unusual four-sided miniature marble stelae from the Six Dynasties Period (220–589)
• a gilt image of a standing Buddha, originally thought to be from the Six Dynasties Period but now considered to be fake
• an ivory statue of the figure of Guanyin in the guise of Buddha holding a sacred jewel with a spurious inscription of 1025, now re-dated to the Ming to Qing dynasty (17th–18th century)

The Freer Gallery of Art (12th Street and Independence Avenue S.W.) and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (1050 Independence Ave. S.W.) together form the national museum of Asian art for the United States. The Freer also houses a major collection of late 19th and early 20th-century American art. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day except Christmas Day, Dec. 25, and admission is free. Public tours are offered daily. The galleries are located near the Smithsonian Metrorail station on the Blue and Orange lines. For more information, the public may call 202.357.2700 or TTY 202.357.1729, or visit the galleries' Web site at www.asia.si.edu.