A LARGE GREEN AND RUSSET JADE GE-HALBERD BLADE

SHANG DYNASTY, C. 1600-1100 BC

Details

A LARGE GREEN AND RUSSET JADE GE-HALBERD BLADE
SHANG DYNASTY, C. 1600-1100 BC
The jade is carved with a long blade asymmetrically tapering to a triangular tip, with a hole pierced below the narrower tang extending to a notched edge. A band of geometric shapes is carved to both sides of the blade below the tang.
10 ¾ in. (27.1 cm.) long, box

Provenance

Yangdetang Collection, acquired in Taipei prior to 1999

Literature

Aurora Art Museum, Jadse of Shang Dynasty, Taipei, 2010, no.22, pp.58-59

Lot Essay

Compare to a similar Shang-dynasty jade ge illustrated in The Jades from Yinxu, Beijing, 1982, no. 19. It is rare to find geometric decorations on jade ge like the current lot, but similar decoration can be found on other shapes of jade of the Shang dynasty. Compare to a jade dragon-form pendant excavated from Fuhao tomb bearing geometirc decoration, illustrated in The Complete Collection of Jades Unearthed in China, Beijing, 2005, p.39.

More from The Chang Wei-Hwa Collection of Archaic Jades - Xia, Shang and Western Zhou Dynasties

View All