Lot 18
FLINT HANDAXE
TROYES, NORTHEASTERN FRANCE, MIDDLE PALEOLITHIC PERIOD, C. 300,000 – 100,000 B.C.
Auction: 28 May 2026 from 13:00 BST
Description
knapped flint, with a beautiful foliate form, a large and impressive buff and ochre coloured handaxe, uncovered in northeastern France, raised on a bespoke mount
Dimensions
14.9cm tall
Provenance
Private collection, Belgium, acquired at a French auction 2010s
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.