J.J. Lally & Co., Oriental Art / New York City, New York

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Past Exhibition

Ancient Chinese Jade

March 15-29, 2018

62.
A LARGE ARCHAIC JADE CEREMONIAL AXE (CHAN)

Shang Dynasty, circa 1300-1200 B.C.

carved with two sets of three projecting ‘teeth’ on either side of the thin quadrangular blade with slightly convex sides polished to a high gloss all over and drilled with a hole in the center, the rounded cutting edge smoothly beveled, the moss green jade with black flecking and areas of cloudy tan color due to alteration from burial.

Length 11 18 inches (28.2 cm)

A very similar Shang jade axe of smaller size in the British Museum is illustrated by Rawson, Chinese Jade from the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, pp. 176-177, no. 10:13, where the author states “Notches were probably carved as part of an effort to distinguish a ceremonial implement from a utilitarian tool.”

商 大玉鏟 長28.2厘米