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Axe

CultureNebo Hill Culture, Jackson County, MIssouri
Date3000-1000 B.C.E.
MediumGranite
DimensionsOverall: 3 1/4 × 2 1/4 × 8 inches (8.26 × 5.72 × 20.32 cm)
Credit LineGift of John and Kay Callison
Object number2016.37
On View
On view
Gallery Location
  • 208
DescriptionStone axe head with a deep groove chiseled around the piece near the blunt end.Gallery Label
The finest stone axes from ancient times were created as sculptural works, exhibiting a level of aesthetic sensitivity and craftsmanship extending far beyond the necessities of function. This suggests that such objects were infused with meaning beyond their use and value as tools. This example, found within the area that is now Kansas City, is distinguished by its finely proportioned contour, the perfect symmetry of its tapering form, its gently curving convex and concave surfaces and the maker's carefully chosen, fine-grained stone.
Provenance

Inherited from Mr. Zook by his son, Kent Zook.

Sold by Kent Zook, early 1960s.

Mr. and Mrs. John and Kay Callison, Shawnee Mission, KS;

Their gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 2016

Published References
Torrence, Gaylord, ed. Continuum: North American Native Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Kansas City: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
Information about a particular artwork or image, including provenance information, is based upon historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete. Research on artwork and images is an ongoing process, and the information about a particular artwork or image may not reflect the most current information available to the Museum. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about a particular artwork or image, please e-mail provenance@nelson-atkins.org.


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