Pre-Columbian, Colombia, Tairona culture, ca. 800 to 1500 CE. A hand-carved greenstone axe head with hues of sage, forest, khaki, cream, slate, and smoke. The tool exhibits a lengthy, sweeping blade edge with a drooping lower point, a wide neck, and a tapered handle with a biconically drilled suspension hole on its end. When grasped by the handle, the heel of one's hand rests comfortably atop the longer curve. Axe heads like this example were perhaps carved for ceremonial or ritualistic purposes rather than for utilitarian use and were perhaps grave offerings for a deceased individual. Size: 3.3" L x 5.3" H (8.4 cm x 13.5 cm)

Provenance: private J. Hart collection, Houston, Texas, USA, acquired mid-1970's

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#167489

Small chips to handle butt, center of blade edge, and tip of shorter blade terminal, with light abrasions across most surfaces commensurate with age, otherwise intact and very good. Great surface smoothness throughout. Blade edge is still relatively sharp.