Blade thumbnail 1
Blade thumbnail 2
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Blade

ca. 1200 BC (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
China (made)

In ancient times the Chinese people made weapons from bronze and ceremonial objects from jade. This type of blade is called a 'ge'. A jade 'ge' would have been tied to a wooden shaft and held by a chieftain as a symbol of authority.

Object details

Categories
Ceremonial Objects
Hardstone
Object type
Blade
Materials and techniques
Nephrite jade, carved
Brief description
Shang ge with dark green markings on handle
Physical description
Pale green-brown dagger with dark green flecks. The central ridge of this ceremonial dagger is very apparent (compare FE21-1984). At the junction with the tang is a band of incised rhombic criss-cross between two lines. The tang is decorated with five pairs of parallel ribs formed by incised grooves. Symmetric dented marks on both bevelled edges below criss-cross.
Dimensions
  • Length: 35cm
Style
Anyang
Gallery label
(2007)
Halberd (ge)
Shang dynasty
About 1200 BC

A jade halberd was not a weapon for combat but a symbol of authority.

Carved nephrite jade

Museum no. A.71-1936
Credit line
Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee
Summary
In ancient times the Chinese people made weapons from bronze and ceremonial objects from jade. This type of blade is called a 'ge'. A jade 'ge' would have been tied to a wooden shaft and held by a chieftain as a symbol of authority.
Bibliographic references
  • Stanley Charles Nott, Chinese Jade throughout the Ages, London 1936, pl.VI
  • Oriental Art in the V&A, p. 11.
  • Kerr, Rose (ed.), Chinese Art and Design: the T.T. Tsui Gallery of Chinese Art. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1991. nr.9, photo p. 39
  • Ming Wilson, Chinese Jades, 2004, no.15
  • Rawson, Jessica and Ayers, John. Chinese Jade throughout the Ages, London : Oriental Ceramics Society, 1975 no.14
  • Catalogue of the International Exhibition of Chinese Art, 1935-6, London : Royal Academy of Arts, 1935 309
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
A.71-1936

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Record createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O12690/blade-unknown/
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