Hatchet
Unknown Artist
Medium
Chloromelanite
Dimensions
H. 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm); W. 1 1/4 in. (3.1 cm); D. 7/16 in. (1.1 cm)
Classification
Jade
Culture
Switzerland
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902
Accession Number
02.18.170
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art department, this petite *Hatchet* exemplifies the allure of ancient craftsmanship in chloromelanite, a, dark green-to-black variety of jadeite Carved by an unknown artist at an undetermined date, the object measures just 1 7/8 inches high, 1 1/4 inches wide, and 7/16 inches deep—small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. Its hatchet form, with a slender blade and sturdy haft, suggests it may have served ceremonial or symbolic purposes rather than practical use, evoking the prestige of jade in prehistoric societies. Linked to Swiss culture, th...