Dagger-axe (ge) with dragons

To 1972
J. T. Tai & Company, New York, NY [1]

1972 to 1997
Dr. Paul Singer, Summit, NJ bought from J. T. Tai & Company, New York, NY on April, 25, 1972 [2]

1997 to 1999
In the custody of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, upon Paul Singer’s death in January 1997 and a loan agreement between the Executors of the Singer Estate and the Gallery in February 1997 [3]

From 1999
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, Paul Singer, the AMS Foundation for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, and the Children of Arthur M. Sackler [4]

Notes:

[1] See invoices from J. T. Tai & Company to Dr. Paul Singer, April 25th, 1972 and May 2nd, 1972, object file, Collections Management Office. Object identified as “ YT 6069: Bronze Dagger-Axe (Ch’u), with a ridge running the length of the blade and extending over the shaft-ring to the butt, the latter in intaglio with stylized masks and scrolls, greenish patina. L: 7 ½ in. Chou Dynasty.”

[2] See note 1. The collection of Chinese art and antiquities assembled by Paul Singer was purchased by him on behalf of Arthur M. Sackler, Jillian Sackler, the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, the AMS Foundation for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities and later was transferred to the children of Arthur M. Sackler.

[3] The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art came into the custody of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, upon Paul Singer’s death in January 1997 and a loan agreement between the Executors of the Singer Estate and the Gallery in February 1997.

[4] See “The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art Gift Agreement,” March 1999, Collections Management Office. This object was formally accessioned into the museum collection in 2012.