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THBFinest Prehistoric Golden Neanderthal Mousterian Axe
Lot 147
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$8,000 - $12,000
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Bid Increments
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| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Oct 11, 2018
Set Reminder
2018-10-11 10:00:00
2018-10-11 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities | Ethnographic Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-art-3500
An important one-day auction featuring museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
An important one-day auction featuring museum-worthy examples of classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (417)
- Lot Description
Mousterian hand axe; found in Aisne, Northern France; Mousterian, 80,000 to 40,000 years ago. The finest large golden Neanderthal Mousterian hand axe from France with intelligent grip design - a Prehistoric piece of prestige! The form and execution of this extraordinary bifacial handaxe was fashioned by a Neanderthal in classic Mousterian tradition. Unlike their much larger predecessors of the Sahara during the Acheulian, Mousterian handaxes are smaller in comparison. Mousterian hand axes are considered the rarest and most prized tools of the Neanderthals! Size: 6" L x 3.25" W (15.2 cm x 8.3 cm)
This is a much larger than typical example displaying every possible trait to put it at the top of its class as a premium prehistoric artifact. It shows the finest skilled workmanship in its profile and flaking! This hand axe is specifically designed to fit in the right hand and features a highly intelligent design. Natural hollow recesses of the original flint outer cortex were incorporated to serve as finger grips. A thumb rest was flaked on the opposing side of the finger grips. Amazingly well-designed Stone-Age artifacts such as this, shatter the myth of Neanderthals being hairy, knuckle-dragging monkey-people. It is seriously doubtful that most modern humans today could design a hand axe as well-thought out as this specimen.
Couple the exquisite shaping and flaking with its gorgeous mottle gold and gray flint and you have a true prize prehistoric Neanderthal artifact that cannot be improved on! The flaking on the perimeter is breath-taking and the photos do not fully show just how impressive this piece is.
What does this all mean with such workmanship and colors? This was a prestige axe to the Neanderthals of the day. No other explanation can account for the extraordinary amount of careful flaking and shaping that went into this piece. The entire perimeter shows expert Neanderthal secondary retouch to execute a stunningly well-made, profile. Delicate pointed tip is still intact and unbroken which is extremely rare for specimens like this. The entire surface features a rich patina and glossy soil sheen indicating extreme age in burial. Authenticity evidenced by the presence of minerals deep in these microscopic crevices.
This rare hand axe was fashioned out of flint by Neanderthals over 40,000 years ago and discovered in a famous and long-closed and protected Middle Paleolithic site in France. Fine quality Mousterian Neanderthal tools are rare and often move from one private collection to the next as most sites are now depleted, destroyed, built over and all are protected by law forbidding modern day digging. It is probable by simple logistics, that over time, high grade archeological tools will most definitely appreciate as collector demand continues to outpace the finite supply circulating amongst collectors that buy pieces and never resell. Investment aside, no Paleolithic collection should be without representative tools of one of the most famous primitive humans in history!
Provenance: private Florida, USA collection, acquired in 2006 from a private Belgian collection
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#139958Intact and complete. No repair or restoration.Condition
- Shipping Info
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