Description:

Egypt, probably pre-Dynastic/Naqada I period, ca. 4400 to 3500 BCE. This is a ovoid-shaped grey hematite mace head with a drilled center hole and a smooth surface; the piece has a very pleasing weight in the hand and may have been mounted on perishable material before being placed in a tomb. Both males and females from the Naqada I period have been found buried with items shaped like this one as grave goods. They may be an indication of the authority of the buried person, as they were later, but little is known about this early period, when ancient Egypt was still becoming a cohesive society. Size: 1.625" W x 1.625" H (4.1 cm x 4.1 cm)

XRF analysis shows composition to be 65% iron, 24% light elements, 4.65% silica, and 4.12% aluminum - all consistent with hematite.

Provenance: private Southern California collection, California, USA, acquired through descent 2006; ex-Joel Malter collection, USA, before 2000

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#188884

  • Condition: Intact and choice with nice deposits on the interior walls of the shaft hole as well as on areas of the exterior.

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September 19, 2024 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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