Axe (fu 斧)

Object Details

• Description

  Object of thin, rectangular axe head shape, of the type fu 斧 or yueh [yue] 鉞; large circular perforation bored from both sides leaving sharp median ridge; one surface mottled yellow, orange, and reddish to dark browns with traces of silvery film; opposite surface is mottled olive greens, gray, cream, and black. (Corner and blade chipped.)

  Acquired with a box, now lost.

• Provenance

  Reportedly excavated at Hsi-an, Shensi [1]

  To 1917

  You Xiaoxi (late 19th-early 20th century), Shanghai, to 1917 [2]

  From 1917 to 1919

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from You Xiaoxi in 1917 [3]

  From 1920

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

  Notes:

  [1] According to Curatorial Remark 1 in the object record.

  [2] See Original Miscellaneous List, S.I. 1319, pg. 301, 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.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Studies in Connoisseurship 1923-1983 (September 23, 1983 to March 1, 1984)

• Previous custodian or owner

  You Xiaoxi 游篠溪 (late 19th-early 20th century) (C.L. Freer source)

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  Lake Tai region, China

• Culture

  Liangzhu culture, ca. 3300-ca. 2250 BCE

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Ceremonial Object

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 2000s, BCE 3000s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, You, Xiaoxi

• Place

  Lake Tai region, China

• Topic

  Western Zhou dynasty (ca. 1050 - 771 BCE), Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Late Neolithic period (ca. 5000 - ca. 1700 BCE), Chinese Art, Nephrite, Jade

• Culture

  Chinese, Liangzhu culture

• Object Type

  Ceremonial objects