Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 900 to 600 BCE. A spectacular and massive celt made from a beautiful jade stone. This celt is an ancient tool, shaped like an axe head with a rounded blade and slightly incurved sides that form a straight edge. The surface is delightfully smooth in texture; formed over many hours using painstaking techniques by master artisans. The lovely green hues of the jade made this a desirable piece, and jade held symbolic power for ancient cultures; perhaps its color was associated with water and vegetation. In Mesoamerica, from the time of the Olmec civilization, the simple blade was associated with agriculture and food, since stone axe heads were used for clearing fields. However, a stunning jade celt such as this one would have been used in important ritual ceremonies. Size: 10.5" L x 4.125" W (26.7 cm x 10.5 cm); 11" H (27.9 cm) on included custom stand.

Celts were associated with ears of corn, the V-shape being associated with the husk from which the cob emerged. At La Venta (a coastal city near present day Tabasco), caches of celts were discovered planted vertically like miniature stelae. The blunt end of this celt would suggest a similar use, and when placed in a vertical position its appearance is much more dramatic. In this stance, the celt served to define the central axis mundi and the corners of the four-sided world, regarded as a cosmic maize field.

Provenance: ex-Barakat Gallery, Beverly Hills, California, USA, acquired prior to 2000

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#162050

Minor surface abrasions and nicks. Gorgeous natural stone inclusions and polished surface.