Dagger-axe (<em>ge</em>) with dragons
date: label: Date
content: ca. 1200 BCE
label: Period
content: Late Shang dynasty, early Anyang period
notes: label: Label
content: Tiny turquoise mosaics define the coiled dragons, with beaked head, three-clawed paw, and spiraling tail, on the projecting tang of this dagger-axe. X-radiographs of this object reveals it was assembled from different pieces that might not have belonged together originally and were pinned and soldered in place in modern times. These repairs explain the disorderly areas of turquoise inlay.
label: Provenance
content: Reportedly excavated in Anyang, Henan province, China [1]
label: Provenance
content: From 1947 to 1950
label: Provenance
content: C. T. Loo & Company, New York, from 1947 [2]
label: Provenance
content: From 1950
label: Provenance
content: Freer Gallery of Art, purchased from C. T. Loo & Company on June 28, 1950 [3]
label: Provenance
content: Notes:
label: Provenance
content: [1] According to information provided by C. T. Loo, see A. G. Wenely's curatorial remark, dated 1950, in object file.
label: Provenance
content: [2] See C. T. Loo's stockcard no. CHL-7/961: "Bronze knife, animal handle, turquoise mosaique An-Yang Shang green patina," C. T. Loo & Frank Caro Archive, Musée Guimet, Paris, copy in object file. According to an annotation on the stockcard, the object was acquired in China. On May 10, 1950, it was taken by Loo to the Freer Gallery for examination.
label: Provenance
content: [3] See C. T. Loo's invoice, dated June 28, 1950, copy in object file.
label: Collection
content: Freer Gallery of Art Collection
label: Exhibition History
content: Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings (February 25, 2023 to April 28, 2024)
label: Exhibition History
content: Ancient Chinese Jades and Bronzes (November 20, 2010 to January 3, 2016)
label: Exhibition History
content: Chinese Art (February 18, 1983 to April 1, 1987)
label: Exhibition History
content: Chinese Art (June 15, 1982 to September 24, 1982)
label: Exhibition History
content: Chinese Art (March 15, 1982 to June 15, 1982)
label: Exhibition History
content: Chinese Art (March 9, 1981 to March 12, 1982)
label: Exhibition History
content: Chinese Art (January 1, 1963 to March 6, 1981)
label: Exhibition History
content: Chinese Bronze, Jade, Marble (March 1, 1957 to January 1, 1963)
label: Exhibition History
content: Centennial Exhibition, Galleries 14 and 15 (February 25, 1956 to March 1, 1957)
label: Exhibition History
content: Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1955 (August 26, 1955 to October 25, 1955)
label: Exhibition History
content: Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1955 (October 24, 1955 to February 25, 1956)
label: Exhibition History
content: Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1945 (January 9, 1945 to August 20, 1955)
label: Previous custodian or owner
content: C. T. Loo & Company (1914-1948)
place: label: Origin
content: Anyang, probably Henan province, China
topic: label: Topic
content: casting
label: Topic
content: inlay (process)
label: Topic
content: metal
label: Topic
content: bronze
label: Topic
content: Anyang period, Late Shang dynasty (ca. 1300 - 1050 BCE)
label: Topic
content: China
label: Topic
content: Chinese Art
setName: label: Related Online Resources
content: Google Arts & Culture
label: See more items in
content: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: F1950.9
objectType: label: Type
content: Ceremonial Object
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: Bronze with turquoise inlay
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D: 10.5 × 41 × 3.9 cm (4 1/8 × 16 1/8 × 1 9/16 in)