blade BM-1948-0716.36

Period:Unknown Production date:19thC-20thC (Archaistic)
Materials:jade
Technique:

Dimensions:Height: 20.50 centimetres

Description:
Qing dynasty jade blade fragment.
IMG


Comments:Jones 1990Qing dynasty blade fragmentThis jade purports to be a broken section of a ceremonial blade of the Shang period (c. 1200 BC), which would have carried criss-cross patterns on its ends. Such blades were approximately trapezoidal in shape, and if this were an ancient piece, it would be approximately a third of the whole. A similar section is illustrated in the catalogue of a well-known Qing scholar, Wu Dacheng. It seems likely that the present jade was made early this century, copying the Wu Dacheng piece, which itself may well have been genuine. The red stain on the jade was produced artificially using iron.