Lot 902. A malachite-inlaid bronze halbert blade, Late Shang dynasty, 13th-11th century BC, 9 1/8 in. (23.2 cm.) long. Estimate USD 6,000 - USD 8,000. Unsold. © Christie's Images Ltd 2017

The blade is cast with a median ridge and with a hafting hole, and is decorated on both sides of the pierced nei with kui dragons filled with malachite inlay. The bronze has malachite encrustation, wood stand, fitted Japanese wood box. 

Provenance: In Japan prior to 1973.

Note: Two late Shang ge of very similar form, but decorated with taotie masks filled with turquoise inlay, were found in the tomb of Fu Hao in Anyang, and are illustrated in Tomb of Lady Hao at Yinxu in Anyang, Beijing, 1980, pl. 70, nos. 1-2. 

Christie's. Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, 14 - 15 September 2017, New York