Description: Title: Spanish Colonial Steel Alloy Chisel Description: This remarkable steel alloy chisel hails from the early Spanish Colonial/Conquest period, dating back to the 1,600's. Hand-wrought with precision, it bears the unmistakable craftsmanship of an era when skilled artisans shaped tools by hand. The chisel’s defining feature is its tip, meticulously forged using a stamp forge—a massive wooden machine capable of exerting up to 5 tons of force. These stamp forges were often ingeniously powered by water wheels connected to mine drains, a testament to the resourcefulness of the time. The chisel’s journey is equally captivating. Having traveled from its manufacturing foundry overseas to the New World and initially employed for practical purposes in the mines, it eventually returned to the stamp forge for a fresh tip before traveling thousands of miles across formidable terrain then vanishing into the rugged terrain of New Mexico. Imagine the high mesas, their secrets guarded by centuries of solitude, where this artifact lay hidden. Remarkably, it holds the distinction of being the first of the items recovered from this remote recovery location—a tantalizing glimpse into a treasure cache waiting to be fully unearthed. The steel itself is a testament to the metallurgical expertise of the period. Often composed of exotic blends, it boasts exceptional durability and longevity. Despite the passage of hundreds of years, most sections exhibit only a delicate patina, a testament to the enduring quality of this ancient tool. And remarkably, it remains perfectly usable—an echo of its original purpose, bridging the past and the present. Size: 174mm x 20mm (6.85" x .78")Weight: 296g (10.44oz) Proceeds from this sale will go to further excavation, recovery, documentation and disclosure of this important historical site. Provenance: Private Excavation: KX-TR-CX01, Logan, New Mexico, USA collectionArtifact Serial Number: KX-ASN:CX01-0001 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, An Origin Report, Recovery Video, Excavation Newsletter and Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this item. Condition: Item has minor nicks and pitting, slight bending to overall form, and light encrustations. Great patina throughout.
Price: 380 USD
Location: Tucumcari, New Mexico
End Time: 2024-12-27T22:43:05.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Country/Region of Origin: Suspected Iberian peninsula
Color: Tan to red to black patina
Style: Spanish
Original/Reproduction: Original
Material: Steel
Size:: 174mm x 20mm (6.85" x .78")
Unit Quantity: 1
Weight:: 296g (10.44oz)
Maker: Colonial Spanish, Possible Iberia
Age: Pre-1680
