Cleveland Museum of Art

Ceremonial Dagger-Axe with Animal Masks (Ge)

Date

c. 1600–1050 BCE

Medium

jade (nephrite)

Culture

China, Shang dynasty (c. 1600–c. 1046 BCE)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

Jade is an extremely hard material. In ancient China, it was carved or ground with fine abrasives, such as quartz sand, affixed to cutting or drilling tools. The form of this jade ( ge, ceremonial dagger axe), was likely derived from similarly shaped bronze weapons. The pointed and slightly curved blade was symmetrically carved. It seems to emerge from the mouth of the taotie , the animal mask. The taotie’s curved horns were carved in relief bands; its eyes, snout, and upper jaw are delineated in threadlike relief. Similar taotie designs are also seen on bronze vessels of the same period. The hole in the tang indicates where the blade was originally attached to a wooden shaft. Traces of vermilion or cinnabar remain on the taotie mask design.

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