Rare Neanderthal Mousterian Golden Jasper Hand Axe

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Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art...

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 7, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-10-07 10:00:00 2021-10-07 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-7537
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• Lot Description
  Western Europe, France, Velleches, Fontmaure Open Site, Mousterian, ca. 80,000 to 40,000 years ago. Fashioned out of rich, golden jasper that the famous Fontmaure site is known for, this extraordinary unifacial triangular biface hand axe was made by a Neanderthal in the classic Mousterian tradition. Much larger than typical bifaces found at the site, this exquisite hand axe features a unifacial design with secondary flaking on the flat side to refine its spectacular triangular shape. The naturally rough surface increased the ability to hold the hand axe when slippery from blood while butchering large game. A flat angled facet on the grip end affords added comfort against the palm when the hand axe is used. The lower half of the hand axe was extensively flaked to form a well-made triangular profile and pointed tip. Fontmaure jasper tools are rarely sold and are highly valued for their importance to human evolution and beauty! Size: 5" L x 3.9" W (12.7 cm x 9.9 cm)
  
  Mousterian hand axes are considered some of the rarest and most prized tools of the Neanderthals. This hand axe was fashioned out of beautiful golden jasper that was surely prized by its Neanderthal artisan as much as any collector would admire it today! Fine quality Mousterian artifacts with European provenance are rare and often move from one private collection to the next. Most sites are now depleted, destroyed, or built over, and all are protected by law forbidding modern day digging, making this a rare opportunity to acquire an exceptional example.
  
  Unlike their much larger predecessors of the Acheulian, Mousterian hand axes are much smaller in comparison, but this specimen is quite large as a Mousterian piece. Out of the many archaeological sites in France containing Paleolithic objects, Fontmaure is one of the "Crown Jewels" of the period of the Neanderthals. This site is very small, spanning only approximately one acre and the name is from the neighboring farm where it is located. Artifacts from Fontmaure have been dated to at least 40,000 years old and are classified as from the Chatelperronian and Mousterian era, having been fashioned by the Neanderthal people. One of the unique published finds of Fontmaure is the very beautiful and unique jasper which is only found here and is primarily red and yellow. Many of the objects found in Fontmaure are made of this stone with other objects made of sandstone, flint, and light gray quartz; the quartz originates from a place that is situated about hundred kilometers from Fontmaure! Another unusual feature of the site is that it was once an open-air settlement, and along with the stone tools, human and animal figures, stones used in some type of ritual, round discs, and stone balls (bolas) have also been discovered in Fontmaure. Today we find the unusual, bright colors of the Fontmaure Neanderthal tools to be intriguingly beautiful and no doubt, the Neanderthals of prehistory coveted and prized these pieces, as well!
  
  This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
  
  Provenance: ex-private Stolzenbach collection, Netherlands; ex-private Belgian collection, formed in the 1970s
  
  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.
  
  #167892

  Condition

  Complete, no repair or restoration! Rich patina and earthen luster.
• Shipping Info

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