Dagger-axe (ge) inlaid with turquoise

Object Details

• Provenance

  Reportedly excavated in Anyang, Henan province, China [1]

  From at least 1938 to 1939

  C. T. Loo & Company, New York from at least December 3, 1938 [2]

  From 1939

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from C. T. Loo & Company on July 6, 1939 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] According to C. T. Loo & Co., An Exhibition of Chinese Bronzes, exh. cat. (New York: C. T. Loo & Co., January

  1939), cat. 43, pl. XIX.

  [2] See "List of objects owned by C. T. Loo and Company, New York…[and] left by Mr. Loo on December 10, 1938 at the Gallery for examination," with an annotation that the object was taken back by Loo on December 23, 1938, copy in object file; it was returned to the Freer Gallery at the end of next month, see "List of objects owned by C. T. Loo and Co., New York [and left] at the Gallery for examination," with an annotation that the object was brought by Frank Caro on January 31, 1939, copy in object file. See also Loo's stockcard no. 81439: "Two bronze daggers with malachite inlay. Shan-Yin," C. T. Loo & Frank Caro Archive, Musée Guimet, Paris, copy in object file.

  [3] See C. T. Loo's invoice, dated July 6, 1939, copy in object file.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  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, Marble (March 1, 1957 to January 1, 1963)

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

  Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1955 (October 24, 1955 to February 25, 1956)

  Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1955 (August 26, 1955 to October 25, 1955)

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

  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

  C.T. Loo & Company (1914-1948)

• Origin

  China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Weapon and Armament

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  C.T. Loo & Company

• Place

  China

• Topic

  Bronze, Art, Sculpture, Chinese Art, Shang dynasty (ca. 1600 - ca. 1050 BCE), Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Weapons, Armor (protective wear)