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THBMassive Olmec Jade Celt
Lot 93a
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
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$8,000 - $12,000
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| $20,000 | $2,500 |
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About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Nov 18, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-11-18 10:00:00
2021-11-18 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Art & Artifacts of North America
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/art-artifacts-of-north-america-7894
Join us for a special auction not to be missed! Collectible Native American art from antiquity to mid-20th century, Spanish Colonial, Latin American, Pre-Columbian, fine & folk art, American frontier items, fossils, and much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Join us for a special auction not to be missed! Collectible Native American art from antiquity to mid-20th century, Spanish Colonial, Latin American, Pre-Columbian, fine & folk art, American frontier items, fossils, and much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (246)
- Lot Description
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
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.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#162050Minor surface abrasions and nicks. Gorgeous natural stone inclusions and polished surface.Condition
- Shipping Info
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All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
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