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Object Title

Dagger axe (ge) and scabbard

Dagger axe (ge) and scabbard

Date

About 4th century BC

Object Number

XXVIL.290

Provenance

Purchased 31 October 1999. A copy of the export licence is in the inventory file.

Physical Description

The axe head is of bronze with a brown patination, lightly rubbed in places. The axe consists of a double edged blade with a medial ridge and a chamfered edge. The lower edge continues at an angle of about 100 degrees forming an extension to the blade parallel to the shaft. At the base of the blade is a narrow standing flange that butted against the shaft, beyond which is a rectangular, tang-like secondary blade more or less continuing the line of the main blade. There are two rectangular holes for shaft bindings through the secondary blade, a semicircular hole near the top of the main blade and a further rectangular hole, at right angles to the shaft, through the extension. The extension also has a simple linear decoration of lines. Some of the edges show traces of hammer marks done to thin and sharpen the edge.

The scabbard is of wood, carved to cover the main and secondary blades and carved with a volute at the tip. The outer surface is dark lacquered with scenes of men with spears hunting animals and birds in red pigment. A triple line of red lacquer follows the medial ridge of the blade.

Materials

Bronze, Wood, Lacquer

Dimensions

HeadHeight141 mm
HeadWidth235 mm
BladeLength157 mm
ScabbardWeight0.05 kg
AxeWeight0.3 kg

Inscriptions and Marks

None visible.

Associations

Places China/Asia

Bibliographic References

Chinese Arms and Armour

Image of Dagger axe (ge) and scabbard An axe head of bronze with a lacquered wooden scabbard painted with swirling, smoke-like depictions of running animals, birds, and men armed with spears. From the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC).
Image of Dagger axe (ge) and scabbard, Chinese, 4th century BC
Image of Dagger axe (ge) and scabbard, Chinese, 4th century BC
Image of Dagger axe (ge) and scabbard, Chinese, 4th century BC
Image of Dagger axe (ge) and scabbard, Chinese, 4th century BC
Image of Dagger axe (ge) and scabbard An axe head of bronze with a lacquered wooden scabbard painted with swirling, smoke-like depictions of running animals, birds, and men armed with spears. From the Warring States period (475 - 221 BC).