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Museum object · Slavery and Freedom Objects

Broadaxe with wooden handle

mid 19th-mid 20th century

Smithsonian NMAAHC collection

COLLECTION RECORDImage not availableExplore the catalog description and source record.
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Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Visual details below describe the original material.

A broadaxe for hewing. The axe has a rusty, metal head and a carved wooden handle. The axe blade is curved cutting edge that ends in a rounded point at the top and a squared edge on the bottom. The back of the blade curves towards a thick, center eye. The eye has an ovular opening and a flat back edge. The handle is constructed from light colored wood. There is dark staining above and below the axe head. The shaft is flat and elongate with rounded edges that widens at the top where the eye rests and near the bottom. The handle has a horizontal split just below the axe head.

Sources & collection details

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture — original record ↗

Source collection ↗

Catalog metadata · CC0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

Catalog reference: 2017.108.23.38

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