Axe (yue 鉞) Axe (yue 鉞) with handle, masks (taotie), and cicadas

Object Details

• Description

  A ceremonial implement: The blade of mottled gray brown and white nephrite mounted in bronze closely inlaid with turquoise (four tiny bits missing); socket for vertical shafting; scattered malachite incrustations.

• Provenance

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

  From 1940 to 1941

  C. T. Loo & Company, New York from November 1940 [2]

  From 1941

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from C. T. Loo & Company on March 20, 1941 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] According to John Lodge's curatorial remark, dated 1941, in object file.

  [2] See C. T. Loo's stockcard no. 86949: "One grayish jade hatchet with a bronze handle with guard decorated in mosaic of turquoise inlay with mask designs. SHANG," C. T. Loo & Frank Caro Archive, Musée Guimet, Paris, copy in object file.

  The object was brought to the Freer Gallery for examination on November 13, 1940.

  [3] See C. T. Loo's invoice, dated March 20, 1941, copy in object file.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings (February 25, 2023 to April 28, 2024)

  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 (June 15, 1982 to September 24, 1982)

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

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

  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)

• Previous custodian or owner

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

• Origin

  Anyang, probably Henan province, China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Ceremonial Object

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  C.T. Loo & Company

• Place

  China, Henan province, Anyang

• Topic

  Bronze, Art, Inlay (process), Chinese Art, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE), Nephrite, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Ceremonial objects