Axe
| Title | Axe |
|---|---|
| Date | 1766–1045 BCE 17th century BCE |
| Medium | bronze |
| Classification | Metalwork |
| Origin | China, Shang dynasty (c. 1600–c. 1046 BCE) China |
| Holding institution | The Cleveland Museum of Art |
| Credit line | Axe, 1766–1045 BCE. China, Shang dynasty (c. 1600–c. 1046 BCE). Bronze; overall: 23.8 cm (9 3/8 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Edward L. Whittemore Fund, 1941.549 |
| Rights | Public domain (CC0). Free to use for any purpose. |
About this artwork
“Axe” is a work of unattributed authorship, dated 1766–1045 BCE. It is executed in bronze and classified as metalwork. This work is in the public domain (CC0), so the image may be downloaded and reused for any purpose without permission (see the licence note below).
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The medium
Catalogued as metalwork. See other public-domain works in the same medium, all free to download and reuse.
The period
Dated to 1766–1045 BCE. Explore the wider set of works from the 17th century BCE held in the archive.
The origin
Recorded origin: China, Shang dynasty (c. 1600–c. 1046 BCE). Browse more public-domain art from China.
The collection
Made available through the The Cleveland Museum of Art open-access programme, which explicitly places this work in the public domain.
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Rights: CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) via the Cleveland Museum of Art Open Access programme.
This work is in the public domain. You may download the image and use it for any purpose, personal or commercial, without permission or payment. No attribution is legally required, though a credit to The Cleveland Museum of Art is appreciated.
Prefer a themed set as a single ZIP with a manifest? See the image packs. The works remain public domain / CC0 whichever way you take them.
US vs EU note: in the United States a faithful photographic reproduction of a public-domain 2-D artwork carries no new copyright (Bridgeman v. Corel), which is the basis of these open-access programmes. EU Directive 2019/790 Art. 14 similarly provides that reproductions of public-domain visual works are not protected. If reusing commercially in another jurisdiction, satisfy yourself of the local position. See the full licence note.