Description:

Pre-Columbian, Caribbean / Florida, Taino people, ca. 10th to 15th century CE. A set of three finely-carved stone hand axes (sometimes called celts) which were meant to be ceremonial objects - part of a ceremonial hatchet called a "manaya." One blade is formed from a mottled pistachio-hued stone with darker inclusions; one exhibits a sage-green color; and the last has a chocolate-brown hue. These blades would have been hafted onto a wooden handle, although there are limited examples where the blade and handle are all made form a single piece of stone. The Yoruba African people that the Spanish brought as slaves to the Caribbean found these stones in fields and linked them to the Yoruba deity Shango because of their thunderbolt shape. Size of largest (pistachio stone): 4.125" L (10.5 cm).

Similar examples are illustrated in "Taino: Art and Culture from the Caribbean", NY, Museo del Barrio, 1998, Fig. 24. The Metropolitan Museum of Art also has a similar example: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/317165

Provenance: private Chicago, Illinois, USA collection; ex-Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, New York, USA

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#125772

  • Condition: All three stones have age-commensurate surface wear, small chips to handles and blade edges, and some discoloration, otherwise intact and very good. Old white inventory stickers on each stone.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

April 5, 2018 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000