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Product Description
The scarcity of ancient Egyptian metal weapons on the market demonstrates their immense rarity. Even in museum collections, only very seldom will you see any bronze or copper alloy weapons on display as they are among some of the rarest ancient objects of that culture. This is the ONLY time we have ever been able to secure an ancient Egyptian copper bronze adze flat axe in the last 24 years.
The flat cast axe is the oldest form of metal axe, when copper was first discovered and smelted to make tools and weapons. It was the most simple form to make by pouring the molten metal in an open stone or ceramic mold. The axe blade was then inserted into a wooden shaft handle and lashed with cord and gut leather strips. An identical example of the rare specimen we are offering can be seen by this museum specimen. What separates this flat axe from common Near Eastern types, and positively identifies it as Egyptian is the protrusion on the butt end, also seen in the MET museum specimens at the link provided. The smooth copper oxide patina and lack of heavy encrustations are also indicative of ancient Egyptian copper tools and weapons as opposed to the heavy encrustations seen on metal from the ancient Iranian Empire and its related cultures.
Axes like these can be seen in hieroglyphics and rock carvings of ancient Egypt, and were dated to the New Kingdom. While these axes were primarily used in wood-working tasks, their deadly effectiveness as a weapon in war, also made them dual-use tools.
This remarkable museum-class specimen shows still sharp edges with the finest rich red copper oxide layers of patina. The entire axe is complete with perfect preservation (no corrosion or bronze disease), including the button process that protrudes of the butt end. For the most advanced collections, acquiring genuine ancient Egyptian copper tools and weapons can be a life-long elusive task. Here is a very rare opportunity to augment a collection with an extremely rare, very early ancient axe!
This artifact has been professionally cleaned and conserved in our lab, being treated with a special sealer developed and formulated by us specifically for ancient metal preservation. The patina shows beautiful traits only found in authentic ancient weapons. It is a patina like this that the finest ancient bronzes are prized for and it is a patina like this that brings a premium in price and value of the specimen. There is no active bronze disease. Bronze disease forms a corrosive powder that will literally eat away an artifact over time and destroy it.
WARNING: There is a STAGGERING number of fake bronze weapons on the market. Many being sold as "authentic" were never meant to deceive and were made as far back as 100 years ago as exact reproductions for museums to sell in their gift shops. Other examples are modern fabrications specifically intended to fool unwitting buyers. As fine quality intact, original specimens become more scarce, the techniques to fake these objects have become highly advanced. We have personally handled numerous well-done fakes with extremely convincing patinas. The degree to which the fakers have been able to replicate patina to disguise their work requires an expert examination by highly experienced individuals. It is common to find very reasonably priced weapons that are made up of part original and part modern components or wholly modern pieces displaying elaborate artificial patinas. All purchases should include a written guarantee of authenticity from the seller, with unconditional and lifetime return policies regarding such guarantee, such as we provide.
