Jan., igiS- Annual Report of the Director. 



377 



of Chinese paintings. The most important gift accessioned during the 

 year are two exquisite silk-embroidered hangings presented by Dr. 

 F. W. Gunsaulus, who has always evinced a keen and generous interest 

 in the work of the Museum. These specimens were made in the 

 Imperial Atelier for use in the Palace, and are classical examples of the 

 marvelous skill attained by the Chinese in art needlework. They have 

 been placed on exhibition in special wall-cases in Hall 45. The Museum 

 is fiHther indebted to Dr. Gunsaulus for two Japanese water-colors, 

 framed, one illustrating the pounding of tea-leaves preparatory to the 

 tea-ceremonies, the other showing a woman engaged in painting. 

 Three notable acquisitions for the Chinese Collection were effected by 

 purchase. The generosity of Mrs. T. B. Blackstone enabled the 

 Musetim to secure a famous collection of ancient Chinese coins, 690 in 

 nimiber. This nimiismatic collection is of intrinsic scientific value, 

 including, as it does, many rare and unique ancient specimens; particu- 

 larly it abounds in those earliest forms of currency, bronze-cast sham- 

 implements, like knives, axes, spades, bells, etc., which are of specific 

 archaeological interest in permitting a study of the development of 

 these ancient utensils. Mr. Chalfant, the collector, unfortunately met 

 a premature death on January 14th, at the age of 52; his collection of 

 ancient bone carvings, reference to which was made last year, and the 

 coin collection in question, remain the most enduring monument of his 

 fruitfiil activity and his serious aspirations. Mr. Chalfant had spent 

 the last seven years of his life on the decipherment of the inscriptions 

 on these bone carvings and left a voluminous manuscript on this work 

 in two quarto- volimies. Mrs. Chalfant has placed this manuscript 

 with others in the trust of Associate Curator Laufer, with the request 

 that he take charge of the publication thereof. Two nephrite tablets 

 from an imperial jade book, the one inscribed in Manchu, the other 

 engraved with a pair of dragons, were piurchased from Mr. Hackett. 

 Through the services of Mr. W. W. Simpson, an American missionary 

 in Taochow, Kansu, China, the Musetim succeeded in obtaining the 

 seal and grant conferred upon the Taochow Lama Temple by the 

 Emperor K'ang-hi in 17 13. When Dr. Laufer secured the remaining 

 spoils of this temple at the time of his sojourn at Taochow in 19 10, it 

 was impossible to get hold of these documents, as the abbot of the 

 monastery is not permitted to part with them without the sanction of 

 the high Church Dignitaries of Lhasa. Word was accordingly left with 

 Mr. Simpson, requesting him to arrange for this transaction, which is 

 now felicitously concluded. The large, square seal is carved from wood 

 surmounted by the figure of a standing lion which serves as a handle; 

 the K'ang-hi date-mark is engraved on the top. The grant is written 



