A VERY LARGE ARCHAIC JADE AXE BLADE, YUE Neolithic Period/Shang DynastyTHE PROPERTY OF A BRITISH FAMILY英國家族藏品A VERY LARGE ARCHAIC JADE AXE BLADE, YUENeolithic Period/Shang DynastyThe rectangular blade tapering towards the pierced handle and flaring slightly towards the cutting edge, the dark green stone with mottled white and caramel inclusions and calcified areas. 34.3cm (13 1/2in) long.新石器時代/商 玉鉞Provenance: Roger Keverne Ltd., London.A British private collectionPublished, Illustrated and Exhibited： Roger Keverne Ltd., Summer Exhibition, London, 2006, no.79來源：倫敦古董商 Roger Keverne Ltd.英國私人收藏展覽著錄：Roger Keverne Ltd.，《夏季展覽》，倫敦，2006年，編號79Following the invention of bronze, blades and daggers were added to the repertoire of ceremonial utensils and made in more refined materials such as jade. Ceremonial blades must have been deemed rather important, as demonstrated by the sheer quantity and quality discovered in the tomb of Fu Hao, a consort of King Wu Ding (r. 1324-1266 BC), of the Shang dynasty. See J.Rawson, Chinese Jade. From the Neolithic to the Qing, London, 1995, pp.40-41.Compare with a related green jade blade, Neolithic period/Shang dynasty, which was sold at Bonhams Paris, 25 October 2022, lot 1.sold_price_type: £