A Pair of Enameled Bronze Bowls, with Flowers and Birds Pattern, with Lid. PROVENANCE: In 1898, President William McKinley appointed Edwin Hurd Conger as Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to China. Edwin’s prestigious reputation in diplomatic community presented him opportunities to keep closed contact with Chinese across the social spectrum, as well as members of Chinese imperial family, including the powerful Empress Dowager Cixi (Tz’u-hsi). During his term in China, Edwin and his wife Sarah Pike Conger maintained great connection with Empress Dowager Cixi, while the latter sent them numerous collections of art works as gifts. After returning to US, Edwin Hurd Conger & Sarah Pike Conger have collected lots of Chinese antiques and art works at their home in Pasadena, California. In 1907, Edwin Hurd Conger died owing to diseases caused by overwork. In an act that drew away from controversy raised by Conger’s friendship with the Empress Dowager Cixi (Tz’u-hsi), Sarah sold many of their collections of Chinese treasures and art works at auction in New York City following Edwin's death. With great honor, Elliott house collects lots of Chinese art works afterwards resembled to collections of Conger’s Family.