Location

241A Arts of Ancient China

Fun Fact

Although it may look made of metal, this blade is actually skillfully worked jade.

Description

This impressive blade combines the beauty of material, precision of geometry, and mastery of technique. The fine polish, silken sheen, and extreme thinness (only 2 mm thick) make it an outstanding example of meticulous workmanship in ancient jade craft. Recent recoveries of similar blades from a pit of a Qijia cultural site located in northwest China reveal that they were originally standing on their edges and were arranged in parallel formations at the ritual ground.

Provenance

?-1959

Dredrich-Abbes Collection, ?-1959

1959-2009

Dr. Arthur M. Sackler Collection, 1959-2009, consigned for sale at Christie's New York

2009

(Fine Chinese Art from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections, Christie's New York, NY, 18 March 2009, sale 2268, lot 275, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art).

2009-

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, 2009-present

Citations

Loehr, Max and Louisa G. Fitzgerald Huber. Ancient Chinese Jades from the Grenville L. Winthrop Collection in the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University: [Exhibited ... January 22-March 18, 1975]. Cambridge, Mass: Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University, 1975. cat. no 207, p. 162

Shaanxi Sheng kao gu yan jiu suo, and Yulin Shi wen wu bao hu yan jiu suo 陕西省考古硏究所, 榆林市文物保护研究所. Shen mu xin hua 神木新华. Beijing: Ke xue chu ban she, 2005. pp. 114-115

Christie's New York, NY. Fine Chinese Art from the Arthur M. Sackler Collections. Sale 2286.18 March 2009. Lot no. 275. Reproduced and Mentioned: lot no. 275 pp.4 and 42

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Ceremonial Blade with Three Perforations (Dao)

Northwest China, late Neolithic period to early Bronze Age, Qijia culture

Location

Fun Fact

Description