Description:

Northern Europe, Denmark, Neolithic period, ca. 3900 to 1700 BCE. A beautiful hand axe with retooling, made from a mottled light-brown stone with faint dark inclusions. The polished axe is part of the technology that marked Neolithic life in northwestern Europe, alongside farming, pottery, and longhouses. Axes of this sort are often found inside dolmens, large granite blocks that form tombs. This example is notable for its thick butt end as well as its edge which is still sharp even after thousands of years. This piece was probably for ceremonial use, considered of great value, and kept apart for display. Celts such as this were often used as grave goods for important nobles, or given as influential gifts and may have had a role in pagan religious rites. Size: 5.625" L x 2.5" W (14.3 cm x 6.4 cm).

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection; ex-private Connell collection, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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#140434

  • Condition: Small chips to body, butt end, and blade edge, otherwise intact and very good.

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February 6, 2019 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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