Ancient Egypt, Pre-Dynastic Period, late Naqada II to early Naqada III, ca. 3500 to 3100 BCE. A gorgeous curved blade with a perforated tang, hand-carved from a single piece of siltstone (commonly known as slate). It has a crescent-shaped body, its flared tip angled gently outwards and flowing down its sharpened edge to a perpendicular shoulder. The tab-shaped tang bears a pair of biconical perforations used to secure it to a perishable handle of either bone, ivory, or wood. This example was likely used for ceremonial purposes given the high-quality stone and the fine condition of the edge. Size: 5.375" L x 2" H (13.7 cm x 5.1 cm).

Pre-dynastic knives like this example may have at one time featured a handle of perhaps gilded material or something perishable. Typical knives of the Naqada periods were knapped from colorful pieces of flint due to its abundance throughout ancient Egypt. Slate knives were much harder to shape and polish, necessitating a meticulous process which cost ample amounts of both time and money. Blades of ceremonial knives are made of a uniformly-colored stone, which some researchers have interpreted to be an emulation of the color of metal.

Provenance: private Davis collection, Houston, Texas, USA; ex-Bonham's London Antiquities Auction, 8 May, 2013, lot 113; ex-Joseph Klein collection, formed in New York, New York, USA between 1941 and 1980, thence by descent

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#132981

Repair to tip of blade with light adhesive residue and small nicks along break line. Surface wear and abrasions commensurate with age, with some discoloration to blade tip and tang perforations, otherwise excellent. Light earthen deposits within recessed areas. Old inventory sticker adhesive residue present on both faces.