FLINT HANDAXE ‡
VAILLY-SUR-AISNE, FRANCE, PALEOLITHIC PERIOD, C. 300,000 – 100,000 B.C.
African & Oceanic Art, Natural History and Ancient Art
Auction: 30 July 2025 from 14:00 BST
Estimate: £500 - £800
Description
knapped caramel flint, bearing a 19th century collection label, raised on a bespoke mount
Dimensions
13.9cm high
Provenance
Part of a 19th century collection of Mr. H. Luyten, Lummen, Belgium
Footnote
Handaxes are the earliest and longest-used tools made by hominids, with a history spanning 1.7 million years. They reflect an early human interest in both functionality and form, with makers often crafting symmetrical edges and faces beyond practical needs. This attention to detail highlights not only their usefulness but also an early sense of aesthetics in tool-making.