Axe (yue 鉞)

Object Details

• Description

  Axe blade with notched sides; pierced; translucent green with opaque cream. Traces of burial cinnabar. (Mostly calcified; small chips and deposits.)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Frank Caro Chinese Art (1962-1980)

  Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

• Provenance

  By 1964

  Frank Caro Chinese Art, New York, NY [1]

  1964 to 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler, New York, NY purchased from Frank Caro Chinese Art, New York, NY on August 27, 1964 [2]

  From 1987

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Arthur M. Sackler on September 11, 1987 [3]

  Notes:

  [1] F. Caro stock no. FC-2325:

  "Archaic jade, axe blade, with series of six teeth near center of each side; traces of burial and cinnabar," see invoice from Frank Caro Chinese Art to Arthur M. Sackler, August 27, 1964, copy in object file.

  [2] See Frank Caro's invoice referenced in note 1.

  [3] Pursuant to the agreement between Arthur M. Sackler and the Smithsonian Institution, dated July 28, 1982, legal title of the donated objects was transferred to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery on September 11, 1987.

• Origin

  Anyang, probably Henan province, China

• Credit Line

  Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Ceremonial Object

• Restrictions and Rights

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  Frank Caro Chinese Art, Sackler, Arthur M.

• Place

  China, Henan province, Anyang

• Topic

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

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Ceremonial objects