Stone Age Acheulean Flint Handaxe

Comprising fifteen knapped implements, including blades, most with an inked notation. 67 grams total, 27-65 mm



Found during the original official excavations in the Farnham area, Surrey, UK, which were conducted by Harold Faulker (1875-1963), and William Francis Rankine (c.1877-1962), who were instrumental with the excavation works and pit dwellings at sites including Six Bells, Frensham, Tilford, Thursley and Bagshot, and Waverley, amongst others at and near Farnham in the 1930s and 1940s. Much of the material is now in the prestigious Farnham museum. The present part of the collection having been gifted to their good friend and Haselmere Parish Priest, Charles Borelli (c.1914-2000) of Farnham; who was part of the Borelli family from Italy who emigrated from Lake Como in 1828 to set up the Borelli family watch and jewellery business; thence by family descent to his nephew.

Farnham district is one of the most interesting prehistoric regions in England, and has been visited by a succession of prehistoric peoples from Palaeolithic times onwards. Along the southern slope of the Farnham valley are three gravel terraces, which are famous prehistorically and have yielded large quantities of flint implements and bones of prehistoric animals, notably the mammoth. In prehistoric times, the chalk deposits played an important role in attracting settlers, as they contained rich layers of flint nodules used to make implements. The Farnham Gravels have been an abundant source of Palaeolithic finds, most prominent being hand axes. The axes differ in type, and each type is associated with a cultural phase of the Palaeolithic period. Types similar to these are found in similar deposits in the Somme valley and in many English valley gravels. Neolithic people are known to have engaged in flint mining. Polished axes and leaf forms, arrowheads and knives, or possibly lance heads, are characteristic of Neolithic flint work.

A substantial flint core or so-called 'Livre de Beurre' with vertical traces of blows on the work side, including one pronounced blade negative extending half way along the stone’s length; cortex remains and core preparation traces on other side; proximal end with impact surface, distal end with rounded point; two bifacial wave to chevron-shaped core edges; flat-prismatic cross-section; raw material for blade production, beige stone (silex) with yellow undertone, cream-coloured patches and spots, slightly shiny surface (origin: Le Grand Pressigny, Dép. Indre-et-Loire, France); old collector's label 'N13310'; supplied with a custom-made stand. 2.62 kg, 30.5 cm (3.79 kg total, 37.5 cm including stand)



Private collection, B.G., Southwest France. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00127506.

Narrow blade made from cream stone, inked Hugh Fawcett collection monogram and notes 'North America, 60-47'. 33.5 grams, 10.8 cm



Ex Dr Hugh Alderson Fawcett (1891-1982), a general practitioner and antiquarian who built up an important collection of ancient implements, weapons and ornaments. From the collection of a West Sussex collector. Acquired from the UK art market in the 2020s.

Dr Hugh Alderson Fawcett (1891-1982) was a general practitioner and antiquarian who built up an important collection of ancient implements, weapons and ornaments. The bulk of his collection is now in the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, but Fawcett previously sold or traded some examples. His distinctive monogram and careful recording of provenance make his pieces readily identifiable.