Axe (fu 斧)

Object Details

• Description

  Axe of the type fu 斧; broad curved blade edge and straight butt; large circular biconical perforation bored from both sides leaving sharp median ridge; metallic blue gray with buff patches; mirror-like finish and variegated hues. (Near pristine condition.)

  Acquired with a box.

• Provenance

  To 1970

  Eugene Meyer (1875-1959) and Agnes E. Meyer (1887-1970), Washington, DC, and Mt. Kisco, NY [1]

  From 1970 to 1998

  Elizabeth Meyer Lorentz, Armonk, NY, by descent from her parents, Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer in 1970 [2]

  From 1992

  Freer Gallery of Art, given by Elizabeth Meyer Lorentz in 1998 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] According to information provided by Thomas Lawton, the jade had been a part of the Meyer family collection for an extended period of time, see Jenny F. So’s Report, July 1997, in object file.

  [2] See Jenny F. So's Report, cited in note 1 and Thomas Lawton's curatorial note, dated August 18, 1998, in object record.

  [3] See Elizabeth Meyer Lorentz’s Deed of Gift, dated February 5, 1998, in object file.

• 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)

  Beyond the Legacy--Anniversary Acquisitions of the Freer Gallery of Art (October 11, 1998 to April 11, 1999)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer ((1875-1959) and (1887-1970))

  Elizabeth Meyer Lorentz (1913-2001)

• Origin

  Lake Tai region, China

• Culture

  Liangzhu culture, ca. 3300-ca. 2250 BCE

• Credit Line

  Collection of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer. Gift of Elizabeth Meyer Lorentz in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Freer Gallery of Art

• Type

  Ceremonial Object

• On View

  Freer Gallery 19: Afterlife: Ancient Chinese Jades

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 2000s, BCE 3000s

• Name

  Lorentz, Elizabeth Meyer, Meyer, Eugene and Agnes E.

• Place

  Lake Tai region, China

• Topic

  Corundum, Art, Late Neolithic period (ca. 5000 - ca. 1700 BCE), Chinese Art, Jade

• Culture

  Chinese, Liangzhu culture

• Object Type

  Ceremonial objects

• On View

  Yes