Minneapolis Institute of Art

Spear head (mao)

China

Date

1600–1046 BCE

Medium

Grayish white jade with variations of bluish and brown clouds, bronze with green crystal inlay

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

A bronze spear head fastened to a long pole would have served as a weapon in hand-to-hand combat. This example, composed of a jade blade and a bronze hilt, was far more rare and would only have had a ceremonial function. The jade spear has a central ridge creating a beveled surface resembling a real spear blade. The surface of the bronze hilt is cast with taotie animal masks inset with green stones. Among the findings at the Shang capital, Anyang, bronze spear heads were common, whereas spears made of bronze and jade, like this one, were rare. China, Asia

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