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THBSizable Hawaiian Pre-Contact Basalt Adze Blade
Lot 257
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:
$3,000 - $4,500
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| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
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| $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 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
Museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Far East / Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Native American, Spanish Colonial, Fossils, Ancient Jewelry, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (371)
- Lot Description
North Pacific, Hawaiian Islands, Pre-Contact Period, ca. 15th to 18th century CE. A beautiful example of an adze (adz) blade of a relative trapezoidal form, hand-carved from dark gray basalt. The large and hefty tool features a tall blade head with smooth surfaces along the top and bottom, uniformly planar walls, and an upturned lip along the bottom that - in conjunction with the sharpened edge - increase the finesse with which its wielder could work when carving, shaping, and smoothing wood. The tapered tang along the backside enabled the tool to be bound to the top of an adze handle with thick rattan fibers that could withstand countless blows without loosening. Adzes are called "ko'i" in Polynesia, and it seems they were traded widely; indeed, axes from Hawaii have been found thousands of miles away in what is now French Polynesia, demonstrating the incredible skill of Polynesian navigators. Size: 9.875" L x 2.3" W (25.1 cm x 5.8 cm)
The Adz Quarry at Mauna Kea is the largest primitive rock quarry in the world, used from around 1000 CE, with intensification of use around 1400 CE (the Hawaiian Islands were settled by seafaring Polynesians around 300 to 600 CE). The vast area includes quarries - both at surface and sub-surface - as well as workshops, living quarters, and religious shrines. Most of these are located between 11,000 and 12,400 feet in elevation. There were only a few other basalt adze quarries in the archipelago - all major locations in the ancient Hawaiian landscape. Hawaiians sought basalt specifically because of its hardness and because it would hold an edge. Adzes were incredibly important tools, used to shape everything from canoes to idols.
Provenance: private Newport Beach, California, USA 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.
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.
#160929Minor abrasions and pitting to some surfaces, with chips to blade head, peripheries, and tang commensurate with age and use, and very light encrustations within some recessed areas, otherwise intact and excellent. Wonderful surface smoothness on planar areas.Condition
- Shipping Info
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