Ceremonial Axe
Unknown Artist
7th–15th century
Medium
Greenstone
Dimensions
H. 5 3/8 × W. 1 7/8 × D. 1/2 in. (13.7 × 4.8 × 1.3 cm)
Classification
Stone-Implements
Culture
Taíno
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Vincent and Margaret Fay, 1982
Accession Number
1982.77.2
Art Historical Context
This exquisite Ceremonial Axe, by an unknown Taíno artist the 7th and 15th centuries, hails from the indigenous Taíno culture of the Caribbean, particularly the Greater Antilles like Cuba, Jamaica, and Hispaniola Carved from polished greenstone—a durable, vibrant stone prized for its deep color symbolizing life and fertility—the axe exemplifies pre-Columbian mastery in stoneworking. Measuring just 5⅜ inches tall, its compact form belies its ritual power, as Taíno artisans shaped it through meticulous pecking, grinding, and polishing techniques, achieving a smooth, gleaming surface without meta...