{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/2/context.json","@type":"sc:Manifest","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da22c30a-887a-4ec4-bb0d-f7272f9cdb4b/manifest","label":"gaa_archaic-yue-axe-shape-pendant_513","metadata":[{"label":"Identifier","value":"gaa_archaic-yue-axe-shape-pendant_513"},{"label":"Citation","value":"Object Name, Date Original (if known), GettDigital: Asian Art Collection, Special Collections / Musselman Library, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Access Date, Link to Item"},{"label":"Repository","value":"Special Collections and College Archives, Musselman Library, Gettysburg College"},{"label":"Inventory Number","value":"513"},{"label":"Accessioning Note","value":"Kramer bought from Dr. Chao Ming Chen, Feb. 1947"},{"label":"Part of","value":["Asian Art GettDigital Collection"]},{"label":"Provenance","value":"The Estate of Prof. Frank Kramer"},{"label":"Genre","value":["Artifacts"]},{"label":"Object Location","value":"J.5"},{"label":"Date Original","value":"Mid-11th century-221 BCE"},{"label":"Era","value":["Attributed to the Zhou dynasty"]},{"label":"Measurement","value":"Height: 6.0 cm (approximate); Width at widest part: 5.1 cm; Thickness: at top of pendant 3 mm, at end 1 mm"},{"label":"Medium","value":["Rusty brown nephrite with some dark streaks and dots, lighter color on one side, darker on the other, opaque, not well polished","Other stones"]},{"label":"Country of Origin","value":["China"]},{"label":"Description","value":"This plain pendant takes the shape of an archaic Yue-axe. In ancient Chinese history, the actual Yue-axe was used to behead human or other victims, mostly for sacrificial purposes. Many jade personal ornaments of ancient times also take the shape of the Yue-axe. The earliest types of jade pendants of this Yue-axe shape were often found in Shang aristocratic or elite families' tombs (such as the well-publicized tomb of Lady Fu Hao). They were also found in Eastern Zhou deposits or burials, where there was a multitude of small pieces of pendants and ornaments; some were earlier than the date of the burials. The two gem-like minerals identified as jade in most Chinese stone artifacts are nephrite and jadeite. Although both minerals share certain physical qualities and earn similar value, they are chemically quite different. Nephrite is opaque, much tougher and does not fracture. The so-called jade used in China appears to have been exclusively nephrite until the eighteen century A.D., when jadeite from Burma began to be imported. While Nephrite is much prized (especially in later periods), Jadeite is of less importance and only began to be used in China in the Ming or Qing period. Nephrite was worked with abrasive sands over a long period of time. As Jessica Rawson explains, while early stone axes have a rather thick, solid body, often lens-shaped in sections, later Neolithic blades have even less thickness. The carving technique is crude (Prior to the Han period, instruments used in jade cutting and carving had yet to be devised). Pendants of later times are thinner and served more to demonstrate the virtuosity of the carver, and the power of the patron to command expert workmanship. This pendant has an uneven thickness; it may have been a product of the technique of cutting boulders into thin slices, and of a wish to make economical use of the stone. The perforation on the top of the axe was probably drilled from both sides with a rotating drill. Very rarely was the surface of ancient nephrite objects embellished. At the end of the axe blade, there is a peculiar indentation in the lateral side. The smooth surface has no trace of any grinding marks like those of earlier times made by the abrasive sands. It exhibits a rusty warm, dark brown color, and is opaque with a dull luster. From the Shang period, the stone axe seems to have been the victorious and power emblem of the sovereign. Many Jade objects of the pre-Han period were originally left undecorated by a group of peoples; yet, later they were often adapted and extended by another. This pendant survives remarkable time without being altered. Its artistic shape and decoration is from the Zhou period, which is plain, unpretentious, and much simpler than any of the Han dynasty. It certainly does not belong to subsequent periods. I am inclined to place it in the Zhou period."},{"label":"Title","value":"Archaic yue-axe shape pendant"},{"label":"Rights","value":"Materials available through GettDigital encompass a wide range of works, many of which are in the public domain. However, some items may still be protected by copyright or other intellectual property rights. Users are responsible for determining the copyright status of materials and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws when reproducing or publishing these works. Items in our GettDigital Collections are for educational use. For assistance in understanding rights, obtaining permissions, or requesting files for publication or research purposes, please contact us at <a href=\"www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/ask-an-archivist\">www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/ask-an-archivist</a>"},{"label":"Reference URL","value":"http://cdm16274.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p4016coll6/id/547"}],"description":"Archaic yue-axe shape pendant","sequences":[{"@type":"sc:Sequence","canvases":[{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da22c30a-887a-4ec4-bb0d-f7272f9cdb4b/canvas/_1","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"Archaic yue-axe shape pendant","height":576,"width":384,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da22c30a-887a-4ec4-bb0d-f7272f9cdb4b/full/full/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","format":"image/jpeg","service":{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/context.json","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da22c30a-887a-4ec4-bb0d-f7272f9cdb4b","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":512,"scaleFactors":[1,2]}]},"height":576,"width":384},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da22c30a-887a-4ec4-bb0d-f7272f9cdb4b/canvas/_1","metadata":[]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da22c30a-887a-4ec4-bb0d-f7272f9cdb4b/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}}]}],"thumbnail":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/da22c30a-887a-4ec4-bb0d-f7272f9cdb4b/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","logo":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/logo"}