Adze
Unknown Artist
Medium
Nephrite
Dimensions
H. 2 1/16 in. (5.3 cm); W. 1 5/8 in. (4.2 cm); D. 3/8 in. ( 1 cm)
Classification
Jade
Culture & Period
North America (Alaska, Chatham Island) · Prehistoric
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902
Accession Number
02.18.249
Art Historical Context
This compact nephrite adze, hailing from prehistoric North America—specifically Alaska's Chatham Island—offers a glimpse into the ingenuity of ancient indigenous peoples. Measuring just over 2 inches tall, 1.5 inches wide, and less than half an inch thick, this handheld tool was essential for woodworking, shaping canoes, totem poles, and other cultural artifacts vital to Northwest Coast societies. Its prehistoric origins underscore a time before European contact, when communities thrived on masterful craftsmanship tied to their environment. Crafted from nephrite, a dense and exceptionally tou...