A RARE LARGE BRONZE HALBERD BLADE, KUI

LATE SHANG DYNASTY, CIRCA 1100 BC

Details

A RARE LARGE BRONZE HALBERD BLADE, KUI
LATE SHANG DYNASTY, CIRCA 1100 BC
The broad triangular blade with median ridge interrupted by a hole in the center of a conformingly shaped strengthening shield, with two hafting slits along the back edge, and a small hole in the tang beside a rectangular panel on both sides cast with a taotie mask
11 3/16 in. (28.5 cm.) long, box

Provenance

Acquired prior to 1977.

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Lot Essay

A very similar bronze kui of somewhat smaller size (8½ in.) is illustrated by W.P. Yetts, The George Eumorfopoulos Collection Catalogue, vol. 1, London, 1929, p. 65, no. A 147, pl. LXIX. The taotie masks on the Eumorfopoulos kui still retain some of the original turquoise inlay that would have been similarly found on the Sackler kui. Like the Sackler kui it is also heavily encrusted.

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