Lot Essay
Previously sold in these Rooms,
No other Shang bronze axe executed in this style appears to be recorded, it is extremely rare to find axes with both tang inlaid with taotie and such animal-mask blades on the same axe head, especially with the original inlay. Flanges on an axe are also exceptional
Very similar axe heads with the three-sided square motif on the tang are illustrated in Kaogu, 1985, 9, P.827, no.9; in Kaogu Wenxue Bao, 1986,2, pl.69, no.1; in Yinxu Fuhao Mu, 1980, p.106, pl.67, which are datable to the late 13th early 12th century B.C. The flanges however, point to a later date than the Fu Hao tomb, cf. Allen, Art and Meaning, in The Problem of Meaning in Early Chinese Ritual Bronzes, 1992, pl23, pl.18; in Indai Seido Bunka no Kenkyu, 1987, p.17, Fig.17
The three sided square was an important motif of this time, the fourth side made up by the handle of the axe. The inlaid image on the tang of a taotie can also be seen on other axe head tangs of a similar period though lacking the three sided square. Cf. Indai Seido Bunka no Kenkyu, 1954, pl.9, no.14, 15, which also have the same axe blade, and nos.13 and 16, with different axe blades. Cf. also, Cheng, Chou China, 1963, p.344, pl.A, also having a different axe blade as well as in Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, 1987, p.367, fig.62.7 and p.161, fig.5.2
For similar axe blades but without the decorated tang cf. Henan Chutu Shang Zhou Qingtong Qi, 1981, vol.I, no.346; Allen, op.cit.,p.24, pl.21. The axe blade was an important object during this period, the blade here forming the lower jaw of the animal, equating eating and sacrifice, as well as symbolising the passage of the victim through to the after-life, K.C.Chang suggests that the open mouthed animal can be seen in many cultures as the passage of man into the afterworld, as well as having special significance in the Shang Dynasty where it is argued that tigers were seen as important mediators with the Spirit World. For a development of this theme cf. Chang, Art Myth and Ritual, 1983
It is very rare to find such inlay in it's original condition and undamaged as in the prsent example. For similar turquoise-inlay decorative treatment but on a ge dagger, compare a bronze ge in the Royal Ontario Museum, illustrated by White, Bronze Culture of Ancient China, p.201, Fig.1, as well as on an axe illustrated in the Morse Collection, Thorp and Bower, Spirit and Ritual, The Morse Collection of Ancient Chinese Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1946, p.21, no.4, on a ge handle in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, illustrated by Deydier, Les Bronzes Chinois, p.89, no.62; and on a lance or dagger handle in the British Museum, p.85, no.58; cf. also, a cross-bow in Ancient Chinese Arts in the Idemitsu Collection, Fig.89, in the same style but representing six sun-like shapes; and on a plaque, in Zhonguo Meishu Quanji, Qingtong Qi, (Shang), Fig.3, showing similar protruding eyes
The present example is rare in having so many typical Anyang decorative motifs on an axe head. For all these aspects to be together and with with flanges is exceptional
The yue axe's function was to behead humans or animals for sacrifice.The size of this one shows that it was probably used on smaller members, such as arms or legs
A similar axe but lacking its inlay and flanges was sold in London on the 19 June, 1984, lot 4. Cf. also the turquoise inlaid ge daggers sold in these Rooms, 2 December 1982, lot 30; in New York, 2 December 1989, lot 30; and in London, 16 December 1980, lot 401 and 15 April 1980, lot 27 and lot 30, which were originally inlaid
No other Shang bronze axe executed in this style appears to be recorded, it is extremely rare to find axes with both tang inlaid with taotie and such animal-mask blades on the same axe head, especially with the original inlay. Flanges on an axe are also exceptional
Very similar axe heads with the three-sided square motif on the tang are illustrated in Kaogu, 1985, 9, P.827, no.9; in Kaogu Wenxue Bao, 1986,2, pl.69, no.1; in Yinxu Fuhao Mu, 1980, p.106, pl.67, which are datable to the late 13th early 12th century B.C. The flanges however, point to a later date than the Fu Hao tomb, cf. Allen, Art and Meaning, in The Problem of Meaning in Early Chinese Ritual Bronzes, 1992, pl23, pl.18; in Indai Seido Bunka no Kenkyu, 1987, p.17, Fig.17
The three sided square was an important motif of this time, the fourth side made up by the handle of the axe. The inlaid image on the tang of a taotie can also be seen on other axe head tangs of a similar period though lacking the three sided square. Cf. Indai Seido Bunka no Kenkyu, 1954, pl.9, no.14, 15, which also have the same axe blade, and nos.13 and 16, with different axe blades. Cf. also, Cheng, Chou China, 1963, p.344, pl.A, also having a different axe blade as well as in Bagley, Shang Ritual Bronzes in the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, 1987, p.367, fig.62.7 and p.161, fig.5.2
For similar axe blades but without the decorated tang cf. Henan Chutu Shang Zhou Qingtong Qi, 1981, vol.I, no.346; Allen, op.cit.,p.24, pl.21. The axe blade was an important object during this period, the blade here forming the lower jaw of the animal, equating eating and sacrifice, as well as symbolising the passage of the victim through to the after-life, K.C.Chang suggests that the open mouthed animal can be seen in many cultures as the passage of man into the afterworld, as well as having special significance in the Shang Dynasty where it is argued that tigers were seen as important mediators with the Spirit World. For a development of this theme cf. Chang, Art Myth and Ritual, 1983
It is very rare to find such inlay in it's original condition and undamaged as in the prsent example. For similar turquoise-inlay decorative treatment but on a ge dagger, compare a bronze ge in the Royal Ontario Museum, illustrated by White, Bronze Culture of Ancient China, p.201, Fig.1, as well as on an axe illustrated in the Morse Collection, Thorp and Bower, Spirit and Ritual, The Morse Collection of Ancient Chinese Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1946, p.21, no.4, on a ge handle in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, illustrated by Deydier, Les Bronzes Chinois, p.89, no.62; and on a lance or dagger handle in the British Museum, p.85, no.58; cf. also, a cross-bow in Ancient Chinese Arts in the Idemitsu Collection, Fig.89, in the same style but representing six sun-like shapes; and on a plaque, in Zhonguo Meishu Quanji, Qingtong Qi, (Shang), Fig.3, showing similar protruding eyes
The present example is rare in having so many typical Anyang decorative motifs on an axe head. For all these aspects to be together and with with flanges is exceptional
The yue axe's function was to behead humans or animals for sacrifice.The size of this one shows that it was probably used on smaller members, such as arms or legs
A similar axe but lacking its inlay and flanges was sold in London on the 19 June, 1984, lot 4. Cf. also the turquoise inlaid ge daggers sold in these Rooms, 2 December 1982, lot 30; in New York, 2 December 1989, lot 30; and in London, 16 December 1980, lot 401 and 15 April 1980, lot 27 and lot 30, which were originally inlaid