Stone Age Tenerian Pecked and Part Polished Celt Axe

Bun-shaped pebble with cutting edge formed by chipping. 240 grams, 72 cm



Ex old German collection formed in the 1970s. Acquired on the European art market.

Oldowan tools are the oldest known stone tool industry, dating from approximately 2.6 to 1.7 million years ago (with some evidence at 2.9 Ma). Primarily associated with Homo habilis, these simple tools (choppers, flakes, hammerstones) were used for cutting, scraping, and butchering. They were largely found in East Africa, with key sites at Olduvai Gorge. Made from quartzite with minimal removals to form a direct chopping edge.

Lanceolate in profile with broad point; inked findspot 'Farnham 1901'; repaired. 301 grams, 15.6 cm



Found in 1901. From the collection of Captain Streatfield who helped to fund the archaeology excavations at Farnham, Kent. After Captain Streatfield passed away in the 1940s, his collection was sold at auction to a gentleman in Kent. The collection was then sold again in the 2020’s via a UK auction house.

This handaxe is one of a group of 23 handaxes originally collected by Captain Gerald Streatfield and marked with ‘’Farnham 1901’’. The discovery of these 23 handaxes is noted by Bury (1935, 68–69) as being on “the west side of the Tilford Road (Greenhill)” where Streatfield found them. Roe (1968, 286) includes them in his gazetteer under Farnham, Greenhill with general reference SU 850 457, citing Bury’s report. Greenhill is shown on the 1873 and 1898 OS maps as a wooded area, just north of the River Bourne, at c.110 m OD, centred on SU 850 456. This location lies on the south-eastern edge of Terrace A of the River Wey sequence. References for context: Bury, H. (1935). The Farnham Terraces and their sequence. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 1, 60– 69. Roe, D. (1968). A Gazetteer of British Lower & Middle Palaeolithic Sites. CBA Research Report 8. Taylor, C. (2017). Five Palaeolithic handaxes from Farnham, with a comment on the Huband flint collection. Surrey Archaeological Collections, 100, 213–221.

Multifunctional tool with a hooked point made on the tip; cortex to one face of the shank. 60.14 grams, 90.34 mm



Fontmaure, Vienne department, France. Acquired in the 1970s-1990s. From the collection of the famous UK musician and amateur archaeologist, Victor Brox (1941-2023). Acquired on the UK art market at auction after being sold by Mr Brox’s family. From the private collection of an East Anglian, UK, specialist collector.

Made by Neanderthal man. From the well-regarded area of Fontmaure, the jasper has vibrant colours and traces of chalcedony running through it.