Dagger-axe (ge 戈) with handle, masks (taotie), and cicadas

Object Details

• Description

  Ceremonial weapon of the type ko [ge] 戈. The blade of mottled warm gray and white nephrite (stained by burial) mounted in bronze inlaid with turquoise (one bit missing); perforated tang heavily patinated.

• Previous custodian or owner

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

• Provenance

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

  From 1940 to 1941

  C. T. Loo & Company, New York from October 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. 86942: "Jade knife with bronze handle. One large jade KU with plain bronze handle inlayed with turquoise with designs of birds and an animal mask near the guard. An Yang Shang," C. T. Loo & Frank Caro Archive, Musée Guimet, Paris, copy in object file. The object was brought by Loo 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.

• Origin

  Anyang, probably Henan province, China

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Ceremonial Object

• On View

  Sackler Gallery 24a: Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings

• Restrictions and Rights

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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

  Art, Chinese Art, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE)

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Ceremonial objects

• On View

  Yes