Ceremonial Ax
Artist:
Unknown
General region:North and Central America
Place made:Oaxaca, Mexico
General region:North and Central America
Place made:Oaxaca, Mexico
Culture: Mixtec
Culture: Mixtec
Period: Pre-Columbian
Medium: Copper
Dimensions:
height: 4 3/4 × 6 in. (12.1 × 15.2 cm)
width: 6 in. (15.2 cm)
Credit Line: San Antonio Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. A. A. Seeligson, Sr.
Object number: 78.285.68
Provenance: with Mrs. A. A. Seeligson, Sr. (Ramona Frates Seeligson) (1898-1998), San Antonio, TX, by 1977; by gift to the Witte Museum, San Antonio, TX, 1977; by transfer to the San Antonio Museum of Art, 1994
Label Text
According to early Spanish colonial accounts, copper axes such as this were used as money in markets and for the payment of tribute. This tool had no utilitarian use since the metal from which it is made is too soft, it is quite thin, and has no sharp cutting edge. Axes, such as this typically have been found in caches that include several other similar tools.
On view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
