Dagger-axe (ge 戈) with bird head

Object Details

• Provenance

  By 1925

  C. T. Loo & Company, Paris, France [1]

  By 1988

  Dr. Paul Singer, Summit, NJ [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] Object published in: M. Paul Pelliot, Jades Archaïques de Chine, Appartenant a M. C. T. Loo (Paris: Librairie Nationale d’Art et d’Histoirre, 1925), planche IX, no.6 (ill).

  [2] A large catalogue project for Dr. Paul Singer’s collection of Chinese Art was drafted but never published. Max Loehr (1903-1988) wrote a catalogue entry for this object before his death, copy in object file.

  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

• Previous custodian or owner

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

  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

  Ceremonial Object

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  BCE 1000s

• Name

  Singer, Paul, C.T. Loo & Company

• Place

  China, Henan province, Anyang

• Topic

  Art, The Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, Carving, Chinese Art, Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE), Nephrite, Jade

• Culture

  Chinese

• Object Type

  Ceremonial objects