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

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

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

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

• Culture

  Chinese, Liangzhu culture

• Object Type

  Ceremonial objects

• On View

  Yes