Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec culture, ca. 1150 to 550 BCE. A large ceremonial hand tool of a highly-stylized ritual form with a curved blade and tapered handle. Hand-carved from a mottled sage-hued jade with light and dark veining, meticulously flaked, and then sanded smooth, this is an exquisite piece of art. Olmec celts like this example were designed to resemble a common weapon but were instead used for a votive function, perhaps carried in a ceremony and/or buried with its owner. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 2" W x 7.875" H (5.1 cm x 20 cm); 8.25" H (21 cm) on included custom stand.

The value of jade for ancient people lay in its symbolic power: perhaps its color was associated with water and vegetation; later, the Maya would place jade beads in the mouths of the dead. Many scholars have argued that the demand for jade contributed to the rise of long distance trading networks and to the rise of urban centers in ancient Mesoamerica. This would have been an exceedingly valuable and rare piece of ceremonial art.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Arundel collection, California, USA; ex-private Rosenthal collection, New York, New York, USA

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#132568

Age-commensurate surface wear, light abrasions on both faces, with minor nicks along blade edge and handle, otherwise intact and near-choice. Two old inventory stickers on verso.