Near East / Central Asia, Persia / Iraq & Afghanistan, Islamic cultures, ca. 16th to early 20th century CE. A collection of three antique metal tools and vessels including a steel sugar axe, a leaded bronze kohl jar, and a bronze oil lamp filler. The oil lamp filler has large tab handles and incised with 8-petal rosettes and a stylized script. The small jar may have contained cosmetics such as kohl- and a narrow spatula applicator could have fit into the narrow neck. The axe was for breaking up dense sugar loaves, but due to modernization of sugar production - these axes or hammer tools have become very scarce and nearly obsolete! Utilitarian everyday axes were simpler and usually made entirely of iron or steel and ornate sugar axes were often given as wedding gifts. Breaking sugar loaves with an axe was a ceremonial part of marriage rituals, and the sugar pieces were distributed to guests. Size of axe: 8" L x 4.5" W (20.3 cm x 11.4 cm)

Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection, inherited via grandfather, who collected before 1980

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#183025

Oil filler tab is repaired and reattached. Patina and toning on all. Wear to axe surface. Tiny perforation to base of jar.