Axe Head
ca. 2500 BC (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Knife-shaped and axe-shaped blades made from stone were probably working tools in Neolithic societies. The Chinese also made blades from jade. This beautiful mineral is hard but brittle, so the blades are unlikely to have been put to practical use. Instead they would have been held by chieftains as symbols of authority. Large quantities of jade blades have been excavated in different regions in China, indicating their widespread use over a span of more than 3,000 years.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Nephrite jade, carved |
| Brief description | Axe head, nephrite, Liangzhu, circa 2500 BC |
| Physical description | Variegated dark green and grey. Near the hole, on both sides, are marks of the cord that joined the axe to a wooden shaft. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Credit line | Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee |
| Production | Liangzhu culture |
| Summary | Knife-shaped and axe-shaped blades made from stone were probably working tools in Neolithic societies. The Chinese also made blades from jade. This beautiful mineral is hard but brittle, so the blades are unlikely to have been put to practical use. Instead they would have been held by chieftains as symbols of authority. Large quantities of jade blades have been excavated in different regions in China, indicating their widespread use over a span of more than 3,000 years. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.64-1936 |
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| Record created | May 9, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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