Axe Head thumbnail 1
Axe Head thumbnail 2
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Axe Head

3500 BC-2500 BC (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In ancient times the Chinese people made weapons from bronze and ceremonial objects from jade. A jade axe head would have been tied to a wooden shaft and held by a chieftain as a symbol of authority.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Nephrite jade, carved
Brief description
Neolithic; Scu, China, carving, jade
Physical description
Variegated grey, dark brown and black. Large, slightly curved cutting mark on one side. Two cutting marks. The hole also smaller than most.
Dimensions
  • Height: 18.4cm
  • Width: 11cm
Style
Gallery label
(2007)
Axe blade
Stone Age
3500-2500 BC

A jade axe blade was not a cutting tool but a symbol of authority.

Carved nephrite jade

Museum no. A.65-1936
Credit line
Purchased with Art Fund support, the Vallentin Bequest, Sir Percival David and the Universities China Committee
Production
James Watt opinion 11/6/1987: Neolithic
Summary
In ancient times the Chinese people made weapons from bronze and ceremonial objects from jade. A jade axe head would have been tied to a wooden shaft and held by a chieftain as a symbol of authority.
Collection
Accession number
A.65-1936

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Record createdMay 9, 2000
Record URL
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