Object: Dagger-axe (ge 戈), fragment, reworked S1987.871

Classification: Ceremonial Object

Maker(s): Artist: Erlitou culture 二里頭 (ca. 2000-1600 BCE)

Historical period(s): Erlitou culture or early Shang dynasty; reworked in modern times, ca. 2000-ca. 1400 BCE

Object Date: ca. 2000-ca. 1400 BCE

Medium: Jade (nephrite)

Dimension(s): H x W x D: 14.3 x 5.3 x 0.6 cm (5 5/8 x 2 1/16 x 1/4 in)

Origin: China

Credit Line: Gift of Arthur M. Sackler

Collection: Arthur M. Sackler Collection

Accession Number: S1987.871

: 戈（殘損）
二里頭文化（公元前2000-1600年）或早商（公元前1600-1400年），現代加工
中國
軟玉
高5.3、寬14.3、厚0.6釐米
亞瑟·M·賽克勒贈送
器物編號: S1987.871

Provenance: From at least 1935
Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (1871-1941), New York and "The Chimneys," Sands Point, Port Washington, Long Island, from November 1935 [1]

From at least 1959
Tonying & Company, New York, from at least 1959 [2]

From 1959 to 1987
Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987), New York, purchased from Tonying and Company on November 25, 1959 [3]

From 1987
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, gift of Dr. Arthur M. Sackler on September 11, 1987 [4]

Notes:

[1] Mrs. Holmes lent the object to the International Exhibition of Chinese Art at Royal Academy of Fine Arts in London in 1935-36, see Catalogue of the International Exhibition of Chinese Art, exh. cat. (London: Royal Academy of Arts, 1935-36), cat. 310 (ill.).

[2] See Tonying & Company’s invoice, issued to Arthur M. Sackler, dated November 25, 1959, in which the jade is listed under no. Jo. 42: “Archaic Jade Chaag (Symbol of Authority) / Shang” copy in object file, provided by Arthur M. Sackler Foundation, October 2009.

[3] See Tonying & Company’s invoice cited in note 2.

[4] Pursuant to the agreement between Dr. 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.

Previous owner(s): Mrs. Christian R. Holmes (1871-1941)
Tonying and Company 通運公司 (established 1902)
Dr. Arthur M. Sackler (1913-1987)

Description: This highly polished jade ge 戈, or dagger-axe, has a straight blade and symmetrical tip. There are projections on the top and bottom edges of the dagger-axe coinciding with the small circular perforation that interrupts the pronounced median crest, which extends from the tip of the blade to the butt end of the tang. The projection on the top of the blade is notched in the center and at the butt end. The projections on the lower edge of the blade are more elaborate. A curving form extends downward to define a vertical edge, or hu 胡, of the type commonly seen on bronze ge 戈. More intricate is the projection that descends from the butt end of the dagger-axe. A small curvilinear element at the edge of the blade is repeated below. Incised lines reinforce the contours of this projection. The lower curvilinear element is perforated. A larger circle that resembles an incomplete perforation appears on the lower portion of the butt end of the tang. (Largely calcified, with powdery area on handle butt, front; minute nicks in pointed edge; cinnabar and soil adhering.)

Past label text: 1. (In Praise of Ancestors, September 28, 1987–January 5, 1989; by Thomas Lawton (shown with S1987.701, S1987.678, and S1987.712; additional jade forked blade, arrowhead, ornament, and bronze ge shown in same case).)

Dagger-Axe (Ge 戈)
11th century BCE
Western Zhou 周 dynasty
China
Jade

Curatorial Remarks

1. (Jeffrey Smith per Keith Wilson, July 17, 2008) Jewelry and Ornament added as secondary classification.

2. (Jeffrey Smith per Janet Douglas, June 17, 2010) Nephrite added as modifier to existing medium of "jade" based on conservation analysis.
3. (Susan Kitsoulis per Keith Wilson, July 8, 2010) Object name changed from "Pendant: dagger-axe (ge) 戈" to "Jewelry."

4. (Jeffrey Smith per Keith Wilson, May 1, 2012) Late Shang 商, late Anyang 安陽 period or Western Zhou 周 dynasty.
5. (Najiba Choudhury per Keith Wilson, January 13, 2020) Title changed from "Dagger-axe (ge)" to "Dagger-axe (ge 戈), fragment, reworked"; Period One changed from "Late Shang, late Anyang period or early Western Zhou dynasty" to "Erlitou culture or early Shang dynasty; reworked in modern times"; Date changed from "11th century BCE" to "ca. 2000-ca. 1400 BCE"; added Chinese Caption by Jingmin Zhang; added the following to the Description field, "This highly polished jade ge 戈, or dagger-axe, has a straight blade and symmetrical tip. There are projections on the top and bottom edges of the dagger-axe coinciding with the small circular perforation that interrupts the pronounced median crest, which extends from the tip of the blade to the butt end of the tang. The projection on the top of the blade is notched in the center and at the butt end. The projections on the lower edge of the blade are more elaborate. A curving form extends downward to define a vertical edge, or hu 胡, of the type commonly seen on bronze ge 戈. More intricate is the projection that descends from the butt end of the dagger-axe. A small curvilinear element at the edge of the blade is repeated below. Incised lines reinforce the contours of this projection. The lower curvilinear element is perforated. A larger circle that resembles an incomplete perforation appears on the lower portion of the butt end of the tang. (Largely calcified, with powdery area on handle butt, front; minute nicks in pointed edge; cinnabar and soil adhering.)"
Added Label Text from the exhibition, In Praise of Ancestors, September 28, 1987-January 5, 1989 by Thomas Lawton.
6. (Jeffrey Smith per Keith Wilson, October 4, 2024) Classification changed from "Jewelry and Ornament" to "Ceremonial Object."

Published References

J. Keith Wilson, Jingmin Zhang. Jades for Life and Death. .

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Dagger-axe (ge 戈), fragment, reworked

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