**Originally Listed At $350**

Pre-Columbian, Valley of Mexico, Mixtec people, ca. 1200 to 1500 CE. A pair of cast-copper axe blades known as celts, both with a thick, blunt boat that flares to the cutting edge. These could be attached to wood handles and function as utilitarian tools such as chisels, or they may have been ritualistic. The larger of the two may have been part of a "tlaximaltepoztli," a common weapon used throughout Mesoamerica with a copper or bronze axe head inlaid into a hole through a wooden shaft. The shorter celt exhibits a lovely copper-brown color and has a slightly-flared blade edge. The larger celt has a lengthy body with a thick butt end, a more-pronounced flare to the blade edge, and scattered areas of gorgeous green and russet-hued patina. Size of largest: 6.5" L x 2" W (16.5 cm x 5.1 cm)

Provenance: private Everett, Massachusetts, USA collection, purchased from Artemis Gallery, July 29, 2018, lot 112; ex-private Arizona, USA collection

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#183290

Both have been polished recently, and have scratches from cleaning. Small nicks to bodies and blade edges, and some, otherwise intact and very good. Copper-brown patina on smaller celt, and great green and russet patina on larger celt.