Images(2)

Ceremonial dagger ax

Date13th - 11th century B.C.

Label TextThis is an early instance of the use of jade in imitation of bronze artifacts. The mottled green nephrite blade reproduces bronze dagger axes of the same period, perhaps pointing to the ceremonial nature of this object.

Object number43.9

ProvenanceYamanaka & Co., Inc, United States, to 1942; [liquidation sale by Alien Property Custodian, Yamanaka & Co., Inc., 1943, lot 221]; purchased from Yamanaka Liquidation Sale by Seattle Art Museum, 1943

Photo CreditPhoto: Paul Macapia

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, Chinese Art: A Seattle Perspective, Dec. 22, 2007 - July 26, 2009. Tokyo, Japan, Suntory Museum of Art, Luminous Jewels: Masterpieces of Asian Art From the Seattle Art Museum, July 25 - Sept. 6, 2009 (Kobe, Japan, Kobe City Museum, Sept. 19 - Dec. 6, 2009; Kofu, Japan, Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art, Dec. 23, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010; Atami, Japan, MOA Museum of Art, Mar. 13 - May 9, 2010; Fukuoka, Japan, Fukuoka Art Museum, May 23 - July 19, 2010). Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Luminous: The Art of Asia, Oct. 13, 2011 - Jan. 8, 2012. Published ReferencesKawai, Masatomo, Yasuhiro Nishioka, Yukiko Sirahara, editors, "Luminous Jewels: Masterpieces of Asian Art From the Seattle Art Museum", 2009, The Yomiuri Shimbun, catalogue number 58

Credit LineThomas D. Stimson Memorial Collection

Dimensions10 3/4 x 3 in. (27.3 x 7.6cm)

MediumBronze tang and socket for blade inlaid with turquoise, nephrite blade