New Guinea Jade Axes

josh stout · 9th April 2016, 02:21 AM

I found these two jade axes but know very little about them. They seem to be known as "bride price" axes and were used as currency and perhaps still are. These two have small chips in the edges indicating they were actually used, which makes me wonder if they spent their entire lives as currency, or only in retirement. Does anybody know more about these? They seem to come from a range of areas and these two are in distinctly different styles and types of jade. I have seen some things called "ceremonial axes" but they are much thinner and don't look usable. Does this make them distinct enough that they can be attributed to a particular region?

They feel wonderful in the hand, but they show no sign that they were ever used that way. These were hafted tools.

9th April 2016, 02:21 AM	#1
josh stout Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 407	New Guinea Jade Axes I found these two jade axes but know very little about them. They seem to be known as "bride price" axes and were used as currency and perhaps still are. These two have small chips in the edges indicating they were actually used, which makes me wonder if they spent their entire lives as currency, or only in retirement. Does anybody know more about these? They seem to come from a range of areas and these two are in distinctly different styles and types of jade. I have seen some things called "ceremonial axes" but they are much thinner and don't look usable. Does this make them distinct enough that they can be attributed to a particular region? They feel wonderful in the hand, but they show no sign that they were ever used that way. These were hafted tools. Attached Images