Description:

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Valdivian culture, ca. 1800 to 1500 BCE. A beautiful axe head that is hand-carved from soft, olive-green stone. The composition includes a pair of protruding handles, a sturdy spine, and a massive blade head with a sharpened edge. The surface is delightfully smooth in texture; formed over many hours using painstaking techniques by master artisans. Hand axes like this one, although shaped like a utilitarian tool, were made specifically for ritual purposes and symbolized the power of the bearer. They were often incorporated in burials and laid to rest with the deceased. Size: 5.625" W x 6.375" H (14.3 cm x 16.2 cm); 8" H (20.3 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private West Hollywood, California, USA collection, before 2010; ex-private Montecito residence designed and sourced by interior designer Michael Smith (worked on the Obama White House) around 2005

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.

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#179178

  • Condition: Minor abrasions and nicks, with light pitting in scattered areas, otherwise intact and excellent. Great surface smoothness throughout.

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June 15, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
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$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 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000