Celt

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Culture Olmec

Title Celt

Date 1200–900 BCE

Medium Jadeite

Dimensions Object: 6 × 1 13/16 × 3/8 in. (15.2 × 4.6 × 1 cm)
Overall (includes mount): 7 1/8 × 2 1/4 × 1 3/4 in. (18.1 × 5.7 × 4.4 cm)

Credit Line Raymond and Laura Wielgus Collection, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University

Accession Number 2010.52

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About this Work

Jadeite celts, objects with ritual functions, were also used as symbols of royal authority though the form is that of a basic utilitarian tool. The form of these ritual objects references the everyday task of clearing the land for plating as well as the ritual sacrifices given to the gods of nature.

The jadeite itself was a precious material to the Olmec peoples and was thought of as a gift from the gods. The handling and carving of the material in this example is exceptional, as jadeite is a very difficult stone to carve.

Provenance
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Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

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"Celt | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2024. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=2010.52