Dagger-axe (ge 戈), fragment reworked

Ceremonial weapon of the type ko [ge] 戈; pointed end, beveled sides, and two cutting edges; long, slightly indicated handle indented at end and perforated; black and dark olive green; decoration: in relief and incised, both sides alike, short lateral ridges above handle, three groups of triple lines at perforation. (Slightly chipped; one granular defect.)

Acquired with a box, now lost.

Maker(s)
Artist: Erlitou culture 二里頭 (ca. 2000-1600 BCE)
Historical period(s)
Erlitou culture or early Shang dynasty, ca. 2000-ca. 1400 BCE
Medium
Jade (nephrite)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 6.2 x 31.1 x 0.8 cm (2 7/16 x 12 1/4 x 5/16 in)
Geography
China, probably Shaanxi province
Credit Line
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1919.61
On View Location
Freer Gallery 19: Afterlife: Ancient Chinese Jades
Classification(s)
Ceremonial Object, Jade
Type

Ceremonial object: dagger-axe (ge)

Keywords
China, Erligang period (ca. 1500 - ca. 1300 BCE)
Provenance

Reportedly excavated at Hsi-an, Shensi [1]

To 1919
You Xiaoxi (late 19th-early 20th century), Shanghai, to 1919 [2]

1919
Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from You Xiaoxi, in New York, in 1919 [3]

From 1920
Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [4]

Notes:

[1] Curatorial Remark 1 in the object record states: "Said to have been excavated at Hsi-an, Shensi." Curatorial Remark 6, H.E. Buckman, 1964, in the object record states: "The Envelope file which has now been destroyed, contained only the additional information: 'Excavated at Sianfu, in Shansi.'"

[2] See Original Miscellaneous List, S.I. 1441, pg. 347, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.

[3] See note 2.

[4] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Charles Lang Freer 1854-1919
You Xiaoxi (C.L. Freer source) late 19th-early 20th century

Description

Ceremonial weapon of the type ko [ge] 戈; pointed end, beveled sides, and two cutting edges; long, slightly indicated handle indented at end and perforated; black and dark olive green; decoration: in relief and incised, both sides alike, short lateral ridges above handle, three groups of triple lines at perforation. (Slightly chipped; one granular defect.)

Acquired with a box, now lost.

Published References
  • J. Keith Wilson, Jingmin Zhang. Jades for Life and Death. .
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Jades for Life and Death
Google Cultural Institute
CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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