Dagger-axe (ge 戈), fragment reworked

Object Details

• 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.

• 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.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Afterlife: Ancient Chinese Jades (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)

  Ancient Chinese Jades and Bronzes (November 20, 2010 to January 3, 2016)

  Chinese Art (February 18, 1983 to April 1, 1987)

  Chinese Art (March 15, 1982 to June 15, 1982)

  Chinese Art (March 9, 1981 to March 12, 1982)

  Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)

  Chinese Bronze, Jade, Metalwork (March 1, 1957 to January 1, 1963)

  Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 14 and 15 (February 25, 1956 to March 1, 1957)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Jade and Bronze (August 26, 1955 to October 25, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1946 (May 7, 1946 to February 25, 1956)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1945 (January 9, 1945 to August 20, 1955)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1944 (December 13, 1944 to May 7, 1946)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1944 (November 15, 1944 to May 6, 1946)

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1943 (March 22, 1943 to November 17, 1944)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Metalwork (March 14, 1931 to March 22, 1943)

• Previous custodian or owner

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

  Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)

• Origin

  probably Shaanxi province, China

• Culture

  Erlitou culture, ca. 2000-1600 BCE

• Credit Line

  Gift of Charles Lang Freer

• Type

  Ceremonial Object

• On View

  Freer Gallery 19: Afterlife: Ancient Chinese Jades

• Restrictions and Rights

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 2000s, BCE 1000s

• Name

  Freer, Charles Lang, You, Xiaoxi

• Place

  Shaanxi province, China

• Topic

  Charles Lang Freer collection, Art, Chinese Art, Erligang period, Early Shang dynasty (ca. 1600 - ca. 1400 BCE), Nephrite, Jade

• Culture

  Erlitou culture, Chinese

• Object Type

  Ceremonial objects

• On View

  Yes