Ca. 301–351 CE. Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerica, Maya. A group of three polished greenstone celts representing the prestige lapidary tradition of the ancient Maya. The celt form, a trapezoidal blade ground smooth without hafting, served simultaneously as functional implement, ritual object, and portable index of social standing. Green stone of any variety carried deep cosmological weight in Maya culture, its color associating it with maize, rain, and regenerative life force, and finely finished examples were among the most valued objects a Maya individual could possess or offer. The largest, ground from dense dark greenstone, presents a near-black surface tapering from a broad poll to a straight cutting edge, its heft and finish suggesting an object of ceremony as much as utility. Size: 0.6" W x 1.6" H x 3" D (1.5 cm W x 4.1 cm H x 7.6 cm D).

The midsize celt, worked from blue-green greenstone with characteristic swirling banding and iron-oxide veining, is the most visually striking of the three, its translucent depth catching light in the manner prized by ancient lapidaries and modern collectors alike. The smallest, a pale celadon greenstone, is compact and precisely finished, its modest scale consistent with celts intended for personal adornment or votive deposit. All three retain excellent polish with no restoration, and together present an instructive cross-section of Maya lapidary material culture.

Provenance: Private New York, USA collection; ex-Lands Beyond, New York, USA

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Item #201629

Good condition. Some light surface wear and softening to blade edges, but, otherwise, all three are intact and excellent with smooth surfaces.