Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A fascinating collection of 4 hand-knapped obsidian cores used for making blades. Each exhibit an elongated and slender form with a flat base. The fluted sides taper from the base to the rounded tip. Each was at one time a cone shape but eventually flaked to these cores in order to create razor blades. The blades were made by applying pressure to the base of the cone to flake off a part of the face, which created the fluted surface and eventual used up cores seen here. Obsidian was a hugely important resource in ancient Mesoamerica, traded far from its source in the volcanic zones. Obsidian breaks in a very predictable and controlled way and is highly prized for its translucent and razor-sharp qualities. Size: 6.75" L x 1.5" W (17.1 cm x 3.8 cm)

Obsidian - also known as "iztli" - fascinated the ancient Mesoamericans; the Aztecs even had a god, Tezcatlipoca, who was the Lord of the Smoking Obsidian Mirror. The shockingly sharp edges and point of this piece demonstrate its great allure. In a world without metal, this sharp quality was especially important for ceremonies of ritual bloodletting and human sacrifice. The difficult-to-obtain material came from volcanic sources in the Sierra Madre of Mexico and Guatemala, traded hundreds of miles to meet the demand for sharp cutting tools and ritual objects, and then were struck using a deer antler or small hammer stone to form blades and other shapes.

Provenance: Private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Dr. David Harner collection, Springdale, Arkansas, USA, acquired between the 1950s and 1960s

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#163369

Chips and surface abrasions as expected with age and use to all. Losses to bases and tips of all. Light mineral deposits in fissures.