Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Ibarra, Valdivian culture, ca. 1800 to 1500 BCE. A fine axehead, hand-carved from a greenstone with a mottled coloration of gray and green. The blade features a curved tip, and two wide convex faces with narrow and flat edges. The butt end is drilled from both sides to create an opening for hafting this blade onto pole or for suspension. The surface is delightfully smooth in texture; formed over many hours using painstaking techniques by master artisans. Hand axes like this one, although shaped like utilitarian tools, were made specifically for ritual purposes and symbolized the power of the bearer. Size: 2.25" L x .675" W x 4" H (5.7 cm x 1.7 cm x 10.2 cm)

Lucite stand for photography purposes only.

Provenance: ex-Colonel William R. Cameron Collection, California, USA; ex-Gill Family Collection, California, USA acquired 1980; private California, USA Collection acquired 2004

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#145153

Chip and loss to face near hafting opening. Surface abrasions and pitting. Nice natural stone inclusions.