Rare Egyptian Predynastic Naqada III Flint Knife Blade

Ancient Egypt, Predynastic Period, Naqada III, ca. 3200 to 3000 BCE. An exquisite bifacial blade of an elongated ovoid form that is painstakingly knapped from creamy beige-hued flint with integral inclusions in hues of coffee brown, citrine, and pale grapefruit. The lengthy implement exhibits incredibly smooth faces - one of a planar form and the other with visible knapped patterning - along with a rounded butt end and a tapered point on the opposite end. The blade is knapped with a straight edge along the most uniform periphery as well as miniature serrations - all formed by hand - along the curved periphery. Knapped flint blades like this example are perhaps some of the oldest farming implements known to archaeologists. This type of bifacial blade was perhaps an insert for a sickle or a cutting instrument for ceremonial butchery in a temple. Size: 8" L x 2.1" W (20.3 cm x 5.3 cm)

A similar example hammered for GBP 25,000 ($34,392.62) at Christie's, London "Antiquities" auction (Live auction 10372, April 14, 2015, lot 1)

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 16.2.9

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private Toronto, Ontario, Canada collection, by descent, acquired in Egypt in 1894 to 1896

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#167184
Condition Report: Chip to curved tip, with nicks along straight and serrated edges not commensurate with age or use, otherwise intact and excellent. Fantastic surface smoothness throughout. Most serrations along curved edge are still pleasingly tactile.