46 AXXUAL REPORT SMTTHPONTATs TNSTTTUTTON, 19 4 2 



Tlie work of the curatorial staff has been devoted to the study and 

 recording of the new acquisitions listed above, and to other Arabic, 

 Chinese, Japanese, Persian. Syrian, and Syro-Egyptian art objects 

 either already in the collection or submitted for purchase. Other 

 Arabic, Chinese, East Indian, Japanese, Persian, European, and Amer- 

 ican objects were sent or brought to the Director by their owners for 

 information as to identity, provenance, quality, date, or inscriptions. 

 In all, 770 objects and 235 photographs of objects were so submitted, 

 and written or oral reports upon them were made. Written transla- 

 tions of 41 inscriptions in oriental languages were made upon request. 

 In addition to this regular curatorial work, much time during the 

 winter and spring has been spent by members of the staff upon work 

 connected with the war. 



Two hundred and thirty-six changes were made in exhibition as 

 follows : 



American painting 3 



American pottery 7 



Chinese bronze 129 



Chinese gold and iron 4 



Chinese silver 2 



Chinese silver gilt 6 



Chinese pottery ■■ 12 



Japanese painting 48 



Japanese pottery 24 



Syrian brass and silver 1 



Repairs to the collection were as follows: 



American paintings 15 



Chinese bronze 1 



Chinese panel painting 1 



Chinese jade 1 



Japanese screens 3 



A scale model of a Japanese print-maker's w^orkshop was made 

 for the Division of (iraphic Arts, Smithsonian Institution. 



AITENDANCE 



The Gallery has been open to the public every day from 9 until 4: 30 

 o'clock, with the exception of Mondays, Christmas Day and New 

 Year's Day. 



The total attendance of visitors coming in at the main entrance was 

 87,812. Seventy-eight other visitors on Mondays bring the grand 

 total to 87,890. The total attendance on weekdays, exclusive of Mon- 

 days, was 57,240; Sundays 30,572. The average weekday attendance 

 was 222 persons; the average Sunday attendance 588. The highest 

 monthly attendance w^as in August with 13,055 visitors; the lowest in 

 January with 4,417 visitors. 



