Straight chisel (gui 圭)

Ceremonial implement; one complete perforation and a partial perforation on each side; color: deep cream and soft light brown, with a few streaks of darker brown.

Acquired with a box, whose cover was inscribed by Yuan Lizhun 袁勵準 (1877–1935).

Maker(s)
Calligrapher: Box cover inscribed by Yuan Lizhun 袁勵準 (1875-1936)
Historical period(s)
Late Neolithic period, ca. 5000-ca. 1700 BCE
Medium
Jade (nephrite)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 17.9 x 4.2 x 1.4 cm (7 1/16 x 1 5/8 x 9/16 in)
Geography
Northwest China
Credit Line
Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection
Accession Number
F1935.7a-d
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceremonial Object, Jade
Type

Ceremonial object: chisel

Keywords
China, Late Neolithic period (ca. 5000 - ca. 1700 BCE)
Provenance

Huang Jun (1888–1944), Beijing [1]

From at least 1934 to 1935
C. T. Loo & Company, New York from at least December 1, 1934 [2]

From 1935
Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from C. T. Loo & Company, New York on February 2, 1935 [3]

Notes:

[1] Huang Jun, Guyu tulu chuji vol. 1, Beijing: Zunguzhai, 1939, pp. 6a b (ill.). The inscribed box cover published on p. 6b states that the jade had been acquired recently by Baichuan (a sobriquet for Huang Jun); the text was written by Yuan Lizhun (1877–1935).

[2] See "List of objects owned by C. T. Loo, New York and [left by him] at the Gallery for examination on December 1, 1934"; copy in object file.

[3] See C. T. Loo's invoice dated February 2, 1935; copy in object file.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Huang Jun 1888-1944
C.T. Loo & Company 1914-1948

Description

Ceremonial implement; one complete perforation and a partial perforation on each side; color: deep cream and soft light brown, with a few streaks of darker brown.

Acquired with a box, whose cover was inscribed by Yuan Lizhun 袁勵準 (1877–1935).

Published References
  • J. Keith Wilson, Jingmin Zhang. Jades for Life and Death. .
  • Yin-hsu Fu-Fao mu. Beijing, 1980. pl. 20.
  • Benjamin Rowland, Laurence Sickman, H. G. Henderson, Robert Treat Paine, Richard Ettinghausen, Eric Schroeder. The University Prints. Oriental Art Series O 4 vols. Newton, Massachusetts, 1938-1941. Section 2: Early Chinese Art, pl. 107.
  • Huang Jun, (Preface) Fu Zengxiang. "古玉圖錄初集." Guyu tulu chuji [Illustrated Catalogue of Ancient Jades]. vol. 1, Beijing, 1939. pp. 6a-b.
  • Chang Wen-chi. "中国玉器歷代史." Chung-kuo yu ch'i li tai shih. Hong Kong, 1978. p. 87.
Collection Area(s)
Chinese Art
Web Resources
Jades for Life and Death
Google Cultural Institute
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