Dagger-axe (ge) with dragons

Object Details

• Previous custodian or owner

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

• Provenance

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

  From 1947 to 1950

  C. T. Loo & Company, New York, from 1947 [2]

  From 1950

  Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from C. T. Loo & Company on June 28, 1950 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] According to information provided by C. T. Loo, see A. G. Wenely's curatorial remark, dated 1950, in object file.

  [2] See C. T. Loo's stockcard no. CHL-7/961: "Bronze knife, animal handle, turquoise mosaique An-Yang Shang green patina," C. T. Loo & Frank Caro Archive, Musée Guimet, Paris, copy in object file. According to an annotation on the stockcard, the object was acquired in China. On May 10, 1950, it was taken by Loo to the Freer Gallery for examination.

  [3] See C. T. Loo's invoice, dated June 28, 1950, 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

  CC0 - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0)

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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