Object: Forked blade (zhang 璋) S2012.9.1112

Classification: Ceremonial Object

Historical period(s): Late Neolithic period, ca. 5000-ca. 1700 BCE

Object Date: ca. 5000-ca. 1700 BCE

Medium: Jade (nephrite)

Dimension(s): H x W x D (overall): 48.6 x 5 x 0.4 cm (1 15/16 x 19 1/8 x 3/16 in)

Origin: 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

Collection: Arthur M. Sackler Collection

Accession Number: S2012.9.1112

: 璋
新石器時代晚期（公元前5000-1700年）
中國
軟玉
高48.6、寬5、厚0.4釐米
史密森博物學院亞瑟·M·賽克勒美術館保羅·辛格中國藝術收藏品；亞瑟·M·賽克勒基金會，保羅·辛格，AMS基金會，及亞瑟·M·賽克勒子女聯合贈送
器物編號：RLS1997.48.3447

Provenance: ?-1997
Dr. Paul Singer (1904-1997), method of acquisition unknown [1]

1997-1999
In the custody of Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, upon death of Paul Singer and establishment of a loan agreement [2]

From 1999
The National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, by 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 [3]

Notes:

[1] The collection of Chinese art and antiquities assembled by Dr. Paul Singer over time 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.

[2] 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. See loan agreement between the Executors of the Singer Estate and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, February 1997, copy in collection accession files. In March 2023, the museum's legal name changed to National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution.

[3] The entirety of the Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art formally accessioned in 2012. See the Dr. Paul Singer Collection of Chinese Art gift agreement, March 1999, copy in collection accession files. The work is part of the Museum’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection.

Research updated on June 12, 2024.

Previous owner(s): Dr. Paul Singer (1904-1997)

Curatorial Remarks

1. (Jeffrey Smith per Keith Wilson, August 14, 2008) Weapon and Armament added as secondary classification.
2. (Najiba Choudhury per Keith Wilson, January 13, 2020) Title changed from "Blade" to "Forked blade (zhang 璋)"; Period One changed from "Western Zhou dynasty" to "Late Neolithic period"; Date changed from "11th-10th century BCE" to "ca. 5000-ca. 1700 BCE"; added Chinese Caption by Jingmin Zhang; and added Unpublished Research by Max Loehr.

Unpublished Research: Draft catalogue entry (no. 293) for RLS1997.48.3447 for the catalogue of the Singer collection (1970--90); by Max Loehr
Scepter
Western Zhou 周 dynasty, 11th--10th century BCE
Jade
Length 48.6 cm (19 1/8 in)
The slender zhang 璋, or scepter, widens toward the concave edge at the tip. The base is slightly splayed so that the straight flat tang appears to be recessed. It is perforated from one side at the juncture of the blade and tang. One side of the blade is flat, the other slightly hollow. Olive and dark green, clouded with light and dark brown, the piece has a polished surface.

Published References

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

SI Usage Statement

Usage conditions apply

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections..

Save this image | Request Permission | Terms of use

Forked blade (zhang 璋)

Related Objects

Web Resources