Curved Knife with Horse-head Pommel
| Accession No. | R001588 |
|---|---|
| Period | Shang Dynasty |
| Material | Bronze |
| Findspot | Tomb No. 20 Hsiao-t'un, Yin-xu Site |
| Geographic Location | Hsiao-t'un village, Anyang, Honan province, China |
| Dimension | L. 32 cm; W. 4.2 cm; D. 1.8 cm |
Description
This artifact was unearthed from the large-scale horse and chariot pit M20 at Hsiao-tun, Yinxu archaeological site. Associated with a jade ring and a grindstone, this curved knife was likely a personal accessory worn on the body. Horse-head knives such as this one belong to a broader group that also includes goat-head and ox-head variants. These were produced by Anyang craftsmen in imitation of animal-head knives associated with the northern cultural tradition. It has a relatively broad and thick blade, while the animal-head design reflects the Anyang style.