Axe Head
Unknown Artist
12th–5th century BCE
Medium
Rock crystal
Dimensions
Height 4-1/8 in.
Classification
Stone-Implements
Culture
Chavin
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Arthur M. Bullowa, 1989
Accession Number
1989.314.28
Art Historical Context
This exquisite rock crystal axe head, dating from the 12th to 5th century BCE hails from the Chavín culture of ancient Peru—one of the earliest Andean civilizations known for its sophisticated stonework and religious artistry. Standing at just 4-1/8 inches tall, this implement exemplifies the Chavín mastery of hard-stone carving, transforming a challenging material like clear quartz into a polished, translucent gem. Rock crystal, prized for its purity and luminosity, was far more than utilitarian; it symbolized spiritual power and otherworldly clarity in pre-Columbian societies. Chavín artisa...