Axe (yue) with Design of Zoomorphic Mask and Kui-Dragon
- Culture
- Chinese
- Dynasty
- Shang dynasty, c.1600–c.1046 BCE
- Date
- 13th–early 11th century BCE
- Material
- Bronze
- Classification
- Arms & armor, metalwork
- Collection
- Asian Art
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 233
- Dimensions
- height: 9 1/8 in. (23.2 cm)
width: 6 3/8 in. (16.2 cm)
depth: 3/8 in. (1 cm)
weight: 2 lb. 6.4 oz. (1.1 kg) - Credit Line
- Gift of Mrs. Charles Kunkel in memory of her brother, Dr. J. William Beckmann
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 199:1953
Provenance
- 1950
Dr. J. William Beckmann [Jay William Beckmann] [Jacob William Beckmann] (1898–1950), New York, NY [1]
1950 - 1953
Estate of Dr. J. William Beckmann [2]
1953
Mrs. Charles Kunkel [Anna Elizabeth Beckmann Kunkel (1875–1969)], Webster Groves, MO, by inheritance from her brother, Dr. J. William Beckmann [3]
1953 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Mrs. Charles Kunkel [4]
Notes:
[1] Dr. J. William Beckmann died in New York, NY, on September 8, 1950. Selected objects from his collection were brought to the City Art Museum of Saint Louis on November 21, 1950 (see Entry No. E6558); they were placed on indefinite loan by his two sisters, Mrs. Charles Kunkel, Jr. [Anna Elizabeth Beckmann Kunkel]
(1875–1969) and Leona J. Beckmann (1894–1984), who served as
joint executors of the estate as Dr. Beckmann was unmarried and had no heirs. This object, which is recorded on the list of received items as Entry No. E6558.1, is subsequently also listed in an appraisal of the estate of Dr. J. William Beckmann undertaken by Richard B. Draper of Draper and Draper, Des Peres, Missouri, entitled "Appraisal of a Portion of the Estate of J. William Beckmann Deposited at the City Art Museum, St. Louis, Missouri" dated March 14, 1953 [SLAM document files].
[2] See note [1].
[3] The settlement of the estate must have occured sometime in 1953 (after the appraisal dated March 14, 1953). It appears that certain objects from the collection came into the possession of one sister while others came into the possession of the other sister, but the nature of the collection's division between the two sisters is unclear. Evidently, Mrs. Charles Kunkel [Anna Elizabeth Beckmann Kunkel] acquired this object upon settlement of the estate.
[4] Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, December 3, 1953.
Dr. J. William Beckmann [Jay William Beckmann] [Jacob William Beckmann] (1898–1950), New York, NY [1]
1950 - 1953
Estate of Dr. J. William Beckmann [2]
1953
Mrs. Charles Kunkel [Anna Elizabeth Beckmann Kunkel (1875–1969)], Webster Groves, MO, by inheritance from her brother, Dr. J. William Beckmann [3]
1953 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Mrs. Charles Kunkel [4]
Notes:
[1] Dr. J. William Beckmann died in New York, NY, on September 8, 1950. Selected objects from his collection were brought to the City Art Museum of Saint Louis on November 21, 1950 (see Entry No. E6558); they were placed on indefinite loan by his two sisters, Mrs. Charles Kunkel, Jr. [Anna Elizabeth Beckmann Kunkel]
(1875–1969) and Leona J. Beckmann (1894–1984), who served as
joint executors of the estate as Dr. Beckmann was unmarried and had no heirs. This object, which is recorded on the list of received items as Entry No. E6558.1, is subsequently also listed in an appraisal of the estate of Dr. J. William Beckmann undertaken by Richard B. Draper of Draper and Draper, Des Peres, Missouri, entitled "Appraisal of a Portion of the Estate of J. William Beckmann Deposited at the City Art Museum, St. Louis, Missouri" dated March 14, 1953 [SLAM document files].
[2] See note [1].
[3] The settlement of the estate must have occured sometime in 1953 (after the appraisal dated March 14, 1953). It appears that certain objects from the collection came into the possession of one sister while others came into the possession of the other sister, but the nature of the collection's division between the two sisters is unclear. Evidently, Mrs. Charles Kunkel [Anna Elizabeth Beckmann Kunkel] acquired this object upon settlement of the estate.
[4] Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, December 3, 1953.
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