Axe (fu 斧)

Light green jade with beige and brown and black specks. Hole for hafting at top edge and to one side. Traces of basketwork. (Two areas where object is rough and degraded. Otherwise intact.)

Maker(s)
Artist: Longshan culture 龍山 (ca. 3000-ca. 1700 BCE)
Historical period(s)
Late Neolithic period, ca. 3000-ca. 1700 BCE
Medium
Jade (nephrite)
Dimensions
H x W x D: 13.3 x 6.3 x 1.3 cm (5 1/4 x 2 1/2 x 1/2 in)
Geography
China
Credit Line
Gift of Arthur M. Sackler
Collection
Arthur M. Sackler Collection
Accession Number
S1987.916
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Ceremonial Object, Jade
Type

Ceremonial object: axe

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

To 1966
Frank Caro, C. T. Loo & Co., New York [1]

From 1966 to 1987
Arthur M. Sackler, New York, purchased on September 29, 1966 [2]

From 1987
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Arthur M. Sackler on September 11, 1987 [3]

Notes:

[1] F. Caro stockcard no. FC 238 according to information provided by the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, October 9, 2009. Frank Caro, Loo’s associate, acquired C. T. Loo's stock after liquidation of C. T. Loo & Co. in 1950.

[2] See document provided, copy in object file provided by the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, October 9, 2009.

[3] Pursuant to the agreement between Arthur M. Sackler and the Smithsonian Institution, dated July 28, 1982, legal title of the donated objects was transferred to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on September 11, 1987.

Previous Owner(s) and Custodian(s)

Frank Caro 1904-1980
Dr. Arthur M. Sackler 1913-1987
C.T. Loo & Company 1914-1948

Description

Light green jade with beige and brown and black specks. Hole for hafting at top edge and to one side. Traces of basketwork. (Two areas where object is rough and degraded. Otherwise intact.)

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
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