Dagger-axe (ge) with dragons

Object Details

• Provenance

  To 1972

  J. T. Tai & Company, New York, NY [1]

  1972 to 1997

  Dr. Paul Singer, Summit, NJ bought from J. T. Tai & Company, New York, NY on April, 25, 1972 [2]

  1997 to 1999

  In the custody of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, upon Paul Singer’s death in January 1997 and a loan agreement between the Executors of the Singer Estate and the Gallery in February 1997 [3]

  From 1999

  Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, Paul Singer, the AMS Foundation for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, and the Children of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler [4]

  Notes:

  [1] See invoices from J. T. Tai & Company to Dr. Paul Singer, April 25th, 1972 and May 2nd, 1972, object file, Collections Management Office. Object identified as “ YT 6069: Bronze Dagger-Axe (Ch’u), with a ridge running the length of the blade and extending over the shaft-ring to the butt, the latter in intaglio with stylized masks and scrolls, greenish patina. L: 7 ½ in. Chou Dynasty.”

  [2] See note 1. The collection of Chinese art and antiquities assembled by Paul Singer was purchased by him on behalf of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler, Jillian Sackler, the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, the AMS Foundation for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities and later was transferred to the children of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler.

  [3] The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art came into the custody of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, upon Paul Singer’s death in January 1997 and a loan agreement between the Executors of the Singer Estate and the Gallery in February 1997.

  [4] See “The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art Gift Agreement,” March 1999, Collections Management Office. This object was formally accessioned into the museum collection in 2012.

• Collection

  Arthur M. Sackler Collection

• Exhibition History

  Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings (February 25, 2023 to April 28, 2024)

• Previous custodian or owner

  J. T. Tai & Co. (established in 1950)

  Dr. Paul Singer (1904-1997)

• Origin

  Anyang, probably Henan province, China

• Credit Line

  The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; a joint gift of the Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, Paul Singer, the AMS Foundation for the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities, and the Children of Arthur M. Sackler

• Type

  Weapon and Armament

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  Singer, Paul, J. T. Tai & Co.

• Place

  China, Henan province, Anyang

• Topic

  Bronze, Art, The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Sculpture, Chinese Art, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE), Dragon, Metal-work

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Weapons, Armor (protective wear)