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Axe head: O.192-1946

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An image of Axe head
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An image of Axe head
An image of Axe head
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Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Maker: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Bronze axe head. The blade, socket, and socket cap all one piece of metal. The blade is flanked by two tigers. On the blade is a coiled dragon, a conventionalised dragon's head, and a t'ao t'ieh mask in the piece of blade at the back. On the cap is an elephant's head with horse's legs and a tiger's head at the back.

Notes

History note: Bought from Yamanaha

Legal notes

Oscar C. Raphael Bequest, 1941, received 1946

Measurements and weight

Height: 11.1 cm
Length: 14.6 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1941) by Raphael, Oscar C.

Dating

Chou Dynasty (1122-249 BC)
Circa -0500 - -0249

Materials used in production

Bronze

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: O.192-1946
Primary reference Number: 138298
Oscar Raphael number: 104

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 1 December 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Axe head" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/138298 Accessed: 2025-12-05 06:18:57

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/138298 |title=Axe head |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 06:18:57|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/aa/aa36/O_192_1946_1_200905_mfj22_dc2.jpg"
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