A Published Olmec Jade Celt, Middle Pre-Classic Period: 900 - 300 BCE

This finely carved jade celt represents a classic example of Middle Pre-Classic Olmec lapidary artistry. Worked from a high-quality green jade with good translucency, the celt follows the canonical elongated form, narrowing gently toward a single cutting edge. The maker achieved a balanced, symmetrical silhouette with subtle contouring along the sides, creating a tool that is both functional and aesthetically refined.

The surface shows the careful finishing for which Olmec jades are prized: long, deliberate abrasions, high polish, and an even, silky sheen that has matured into a warm beige patina through age and ritual handling. Such celts were more than utilitarian tools; they symbolized agricultural fertility, rulership, and the authority to mediate between the earthly and supernatural realms. Their placement in caches, burials, and ceremonial deposits is well documented, and published examples like this one provide important insight into early Mesoamerican belief systems and exchange networks for high-status jade.

This particular celt stands out for its elegant proportions, excellent preservation, notable exhibition, and publication history. The underside bears an old collection or inventory number (“GR1050”) applied in black ink, evidence of long-term curation and consistent with the piece’s documented history. Its inclusion in The Olmec World: Ritual and Rulership exhibition at Princeton and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, underscores its quality and its relevance to the broader corpus of known Olmec jade objects. Mounted on a custom bronze base, it presents as a striking and well-documented example of early jade working in Mesoamerica.

Published: The Olmec World: Ritual and Rulership, The Art Museum, Princeton University, 1995, fig. 122.

Exhibited: The Olmec World: Ritual and Rulership, The Art Museum, Princeton University, December 16, 1995 – February 25, 1996. and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, April 14 – June 9, 1996. 

Medium: Jade

Dimensions: Height: 5.5 ins (13.97 cm)

Condition: The object is intact and in excellent overall condition. Surfaces are well-preserved with minor age-related wear and an even beige patina. No structural damage, chips, cracks, or restorations are evident. An old collection number (“GR1050”) is present on the underside.

Provenance: Private New York collection, acquired from the Merrin Gallery, New York, 15 March 1989.

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