內長：7.8厘米 （3 吋） 通長：19.5厘米 （7 3⁄4 吋）Length of tang： 7.8 cm （3 in.） Overall length： 19.5 cm （7 3⁄4 in.）

Literature：
Wu Zhenfeng， Shangzhou Qingtongqi Mingwen ji Tuxiang Jicheng book 12， Shanghai， Shanghai Guji Chubanshe， 2012， no. 17209
Shanghai Museum， The Legacy of Chu Chong-yee： Ancient Chinese Bronzes in the Jiu Ru Yuan Collection， Shanghai， Shanghai Cishu Press， 2017 ， no. 32
Provenance：
Collection of Chu’s Jiu Ru Yuan， acquired in the 1980s， Hong Kong

This weapon has a long blade， the front of which is of a triangular shape that is similar to that of the jade gui-tablet. The upper edge tilts slightly upwards while the lower edge curves smoothly down to form the descending edge. At the base of the convex blade is a rectangular lashing hole and three more， arranged upright， are found next to the long curb that tapers into a point at the top. Slightly chipped at the end， the unusually long rectangular tang is also perforated with a rectangular lashing hole in the middle. A three-character inscription， barely legible because of the heavy encrustation， is engraved on one side of the blade on top of a 14-character one arranged in two columns on the descending edge.

Ge-dagger axes of this kind were commonly used from the late Western Zhou to the early Spring and Autumn period and have been grouped by scholars like Ma Chengyuan under “ge-dagger axes with gui-shaped blade and short descending edge” （Ma Chengyuan， Zhongguo Qingtongqi， Shanghai， 2009， p. 25）. Three other Qinzi ge-dagger axes with inscription have previously been found and are now in the respective collections of the Guangzhou Museum， Palace Museum， Beijing （Yin-Zhou Jinwen Jicheng， 17.11353 & 17.11352）， and Xiao Chunyuan’s Zhen Qin Zhai （Li Xueqin， Zhenqinzhai Cangjin： Qintongqi Pian， 2006， pp. 36-38）. Other than these， there is the more recently found example inscribed with “qin zi yuan yong” （Wu Zhenfeng， “Qingbing Xinfaxian，” in Rong Geng Xiansheng Bainian Danchen Jinian Wenji， 1998）， making the present one collected by Chu Chong-yee at least the fifth Qinzi ge-dagger axe that have hitherto been seen. Of these five specimens that are similar in shape， only those in the collection of the Guangzhou Museum and Zhu have a raised crescent below the rectangular lashing hole in the upper section of the blade. Except for the one inscribed with “qin zi yuan yong”， the inscriptions on all other four read more or less the same. In particular， the inscription on the Guangzhou Museum example is identical with that on the present specimen except that there is an additional character at the end.

For years， scholarly opinions have been divided over the identity of Qinzi. He was most likely to be Duke Jing of Qin， or Duke Wen of Qin’s eldest son， as suggested by both Li Xueqin and Wu Zhenfeng （Wu Zhenfeng， Jinwen Renming Huibian [Zhonghua Shuju]， p. 186； Li Xueqin， Zhenqinzhai Cangjin： Qintongqi Pian [2006]， Preface， p. 9）. Furthermore， according to “Qin Benji” in Shiji （“Annals of Qin”， Records of the Grand Historian）， Duke Wen of Qin’s eldest son was canonized as Jing after his death in 718 BC during the early Spring and Autumn period， the period shape and style of which tally with those of the Qinzi ge-dagger axes and mao-spears under examination.

Price estimate:
HKD: 50,000 - 70,000
USD: 6,500 - 9,100

Auction Result:
HKD: 141,600