Dagger-axe (<em>ge</em> 戈)
date: label: Date
content: ca. 2000-ca. 1400 BCE
label: Period
content: Erlitou culture or early Shang dynasty
notes: label: Description
content: Large emblematic weapon of the type ko [ge] 戈 (Broken in two and mended; one chip missing). Mottled gray, black and brownish nephrite, somewhat translucent; decorative band of parallel and criss-cross lines engraved on the butt of the blade; a conical perforation in the tang; inscription of thirty characters.
label: Description
content: Acquired with a wooden box, lid now lost.
label: Label
content: This is one of the largest jades to survive from ancient China. While the shape is based on early Bronze Age weapons, its exceptional size and thinness indicate it was a symbol of power meant for public display, not battle. The incised inscription near the base of the blade—rare among early jades—commemorates the Taibao’s successful mission to the south during the early years of the Zhou dynasty. In appreciation, the king presented this valued antique blade to the Grand Protector, who had it inscribed with a new text.
label: Label
content: In the sixth month on the day bingyin the king was at Feng [west of modern Xi’an]. He ordered the Taibao to inspect the southern states along the Han [River]. . . . [He] commanded the Lord of Li to assist, using one hundred infantrymen.
label: Provenance
content: Reportedly presented to the first Duke of Shao (Shao gong 召公 ), Shih [Shi] 奭 [1]
label: Provenance
content: 1903
label: Provenance
content: Reportedly unearthed at Qishan 岐山, Fengxiang xian 鳳翔縣, Shaanxi 陝西 Province; said to be from the grave of the first Duke of Shao (Shao gong 召公 ), Shi 奭, the Taibao 太保 [2]
label: Provenance
content: 1903
label: Provenance
content: Wu Ching-t'ing 武敬亭 (Wu Jingting) [3]
label: Provenance
content: To 1911
label: Provenance
content: Duanfang (1861-1911), Beijing, China [4]
label: Provenance
content: 1911 - 1918
label: Provenance
content: Descendants of Duanfang, Beijing, China [5]
label: Provenance
content: 1918 - 1919
label: Provenance
content: You Xiaoxi 游篠溪 (late 19th century - mid-20th century), Shanghai, China purchased from Duanfang's family in October 1918 [6]
label: Provenance
content: 1917 - 1919
label: Provenance
content: Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919), purchased from Seaouke Yue in 1919 [7]
label: Provenance
content: From 1920
label: Provenance
content: Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Charles Lang Freer in 1920 [8]
label: Provenance
content: Notes:
label: Provenance
content: [1] See object's inscription and Pang Huaijing 龐懷靖,
label: Provenance
content: "Pa T'ai pao yu ke [Ba Taibao yuge] 跋太保玉戈," in K'ao-ku yu wen-wu [Kaogu yu wenwu] 考古與文物 1986.1, pp. 70-73.
label: Provenance
content: [2] See note 1.
label: Provenance
content: [3] See note 1.
label: Provenance
content: [4]
label: Provenance
content: This jade was formerly in the collection of Duanfang 端方
label: Provenance
content: and was published in his posthumous T'ao chai ku-yu t'u [Taozhai guyu tu] 陶齋古玉圖, vol. 1 (Shanghai: Laiqingge, 1936), pp. 84--85, where it is called a "jade sword 玉刀.
label: Provenance
content: See also, curatorial notes in accession file F1918.1.
label: Provenance
content: [5] You Xiaoxi (Seaouke Yue) sold several objects that were part of Duanfang's collection from 1916-1919; he acquired these objects through the family of Duanfang. Seaouke Yue cites the Duanfang provenance in documentation from the American Consular Service, see:
label: Provenance
content: "Special Certificate from American Consular Service," signed by Charles E. Kline, American Vice Counsul, May 20, 1919, copy in object file. This object is included in the inventory of box II as number 63. In this certificate, Yue states that he acquired from the Duanfang [Tuan Fang] collection in October of 1918.
label: Provenance
content: [6] See note 4
label: Provenance
content: and S.I. 1392, Original Miscellaneous List, pg. 323, Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives.
label: Provenance
content: [7] See note 5. Upon purchased from Seaouke Yue, Freer had this object - and others purchased from Yue at the same time - immediately shipped to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. See: "Special Certificate from American Consular Service," cited in note 4.
label: Provenance
content: [8] The original deed of Charles Lang Freer's gift was signed in 1906. The collection was received in 1920 upon the completion of the Freer Gallery.
label: Collection
content: Freer Gallery of Art Collection
label: Exhibition History
content: Afterlife: Ancient Chinese Jades (October 14, 2017 - ongoing)
label: Exhibition History
content: Ancient Chinese Jades and Bronzes (November 20, 2010 to January 3, 2016)
label: Exhibition History
content: Writing, Carving and Rubbing: China’s Calligraphic Arts (April 4 to October 25, 2009)
label: Exhibition History
content: Palaces and Pavilions: Grand Architecture in Chinese Painting (September 29, 2002 to March 30, 2003)
label: Exhibition History
content: Year of the Horse: Chinese Horse Paintings (February 24 to September 2, 2002)
label: Exhibition History
content: A Brief History of Chinese Writing (April 26, 2000 to February 9, 2002)
label: Exhibition History
content: Chinese Metalwork (May 9, 1993 to March 21, 1997)
label: Exhibition History
content: Ancient Chinese Jade (September 4, 1980 to March 6, 1981)
label: Exhibition History
content: American Paintings (September 8, 1961 to May 2, 1973)
label: Exhibition History
content: Chinese Bronze, Jade, Metalwork (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, Ancient Chinese Jade and Bronze (August 26, 1955 to October 25, 1955)
label: Exhibition History
content: Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1946 (May 7, 1946 to February 25, 1956)
label: Exhibition History
content: Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1945 (January 9, 1945 to August 20, 1955)
label: Exhibition History
content: Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1944 (December 13, 1944 to May 7, 1946)
label: Exhibition History
content: Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Art, 1944 (November 15, 1944 to May 6, 1946)
label: Exhibition History
content: Untitled Exhibition, Ancient Chinese Art, 1943 (March 22, 1943 to November 17, 1944)
label: Exhibition History
content: Untitled Exhibition, Chinese Metalwork (March 14, 1931 to March 22, 1943)
label: Previous custodian or owner
content: Wu Ching-t'ing 武敬亭
label: Previous custodian or owner
content: Duanfang 端方 (1861-1911)
label: Previous custodian or owner
content: Descendants of Duanfang (20th century)
label: Previous custodian or owner
content: You Xiaoxi 游篠溪 (late 19th-early 20th century) (C.L. Freer source)
label: Previous custodian or owner
content: Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919)
place: label: Origin
content: probably Henan province, China
topic: label: Topic
content: jade
label: Topic
content: nephrite
label: Topic
content: China
label: Topic
content: Chinese Art
label: Topic
content: Erligang period, Early Shang dynasty (ca. 1600 - ca. 1400 BCE)
label: Topic
content: Charles Lang Freer collection
culture: label: Culture
content: Erlitou culture, ca. 2000-1600 BCE
setName: label: On View
content: West Building (Freer Gallery of Art), Gallery 19: Afterlife: Ancient Chinese Jades
label: Related Online Resources
content: Google Arts & Culture
label: Related Online Resources
content: Jades for Life and Death
label: See more items in
content: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Charles Lang Freer
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: F1919.13a-c
objectType: label: Type
content: Ceremonial Object
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: CC0
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: Jade (nephrite)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D: 10.2 x 67.1 x 0.6 cm (4 x 26 7/16 x 1/4 in)