Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 1500 BCE. An elegant ceremonial jadeite celt (axe), skillfully hand-carved from blue-green jadeite with mottled sage green inclusions. The jadeite was meticulously flaked and then sanded smooth to a reflective sheen, resulting in a tool with an elegant, tapering body presenting a rounded handle and a broad upper section with an acutely-angled edge. A highly-stylized ritual form for ceremonial and/or funerary purposes, this Olmec jadeite celt exemplifies the arduous technique of ancient stone-shaping as well as Olmec's artistry. Size: 3.375" W x 8.7" H (8.6 cm x 22.1 cm); 9.3" H (23.6 cm) on included custom stand.

Celts were associated with ears of corn, the V-shape being associated with the husk from which the cob emerged. At La Venta (a coastal city near present day Tabasco), caches of celts were discovered planted vertically like miniature stelae. The blunt end of this celt would suggest a similar use, and when placed in a vertical position its appearance is much more dramatic. In this stance the celt served to define the central axis mundi and the corners of the four-sided world, regarded as a cosmic maize field.

Research in the late 1990s and early 2000s pinpointed the source of what is colloquially referred to as "Olmec blue" jade in the lowland Motagua River near the modern-day border of Guatemala and Honduras; stone from this source was carved and traded widely throughout early Mesoamerica. The value of jade for ancient people lay in its symbolic power: perhaps its color was associated with water and vegetation; later, the Maya would place jade beads in the mouths of the dead. Many scholars have argued that the demand for jade contributed to the rise of long-distance trading networks and to the rise of urban centers in ancient Mesoamerica. This jade celt would have been regarded as an exceedingly valuable and rare piece of ceremonial art.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Bill Freeman collection, New Mexico, USA

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#156976

Repairs to area of blade edge as well as lower body along verso, with resurfacing and very light adhesive residue along break lines. Light abrasions to both faces and butt end, with small chip to blade edge. Great surface smoothness throughout. Old inventory label on verso.