An Etruscan ceremonial bronze axe, 2nd half of the 8th - early 7th century B.C.The lavishly embellished ceremonial axe of unusual shape. Blunt, straight neck. The groove for the shaft bordered on the side by two slightly curved, high wings and extending forwards to a domed shoulder. Ornate concentric circles struck all over the top and bottom of the wings and on the midline, interspersed with lines of chased dots. The axe flaring from the shoulder to an extremely thin blade, which widens to the prominent lobes of the domed cutting edge. The blade with identical ornamentation on both sides. A decorative segment from the shoulder to the middle of the axe blade, with eight vertical rows of concentric circles, each interspersed with a row of chased dots. Directly adjacent are five triangles, composed of fine carved outlines and cross-hatching, with a chased dot at each tip, followed in the middle by three four-legged creatures with horns or antlers, composed of chased dots and highlighted with modern white colouring. Beautiful, dark green patina. One corner of the cutting edge very slightly bent. Otherwise fully intact. Length 17.9 cm. An exceptionally exquisite ancient Italian ceremonial axe. Comes with an item of the catalogue "L' Art Des Peuples Italiques" of 1993, in which the axe is published.Provenance: Acquired in a German gallery in 2006, the axe has since remained in Germany. Previously in a private collection in Geneva. Exhibited in Geneva in 1993 - 1994. Published in the catalogue "L'Art Des Peuples Italiques", Geneva 1993, p. 144, no. 53. Previously exhibited in the catalogue "Italy of the Etruscans", Jerusalem 1991, no. 106.Condition: II +