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Modern lithic art is impressive for the quality and level of craftsmanship that skilled knappers have increasingly developed over the last 30 years. These art pieces are also just as impressive for the beautiful colors and the wide variety of stone used to make them. Knappers are making their art from the highest quality and rarest specimens of chert, agate and chalcedony. A particularly colorful or large stone definitely adds a quite a lot to the finished piece. Some points are even made from semiprecious stones such as Opal. |
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Some of the first artistically knapped points collected in North America in the twentieth century were acquired from Ishi, the California Yahi Indian, between the years 1911 and 1916. He was making very finely flaked and large arrow points out of colored glass and Obsidian. However, it's only recently that collecting modern knapped points as art has become popular. |
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One of the first collectors of modern lithic art was Charley Shewey from Kansas City. Charley was born in 1911 and by the age of twelve he had learned the basic techniques of flintknapping with pressure flaking. By the 1930's he was making very finely crafted points. His unique interest in knapping at an early age started him off on a lifetime of seeking out other knappers and collecting their points. Few people had very much interest in collecting modern points before the mid 1980's. |
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Finely crafted modern points can be purchased anywhere from $30 to multiple thousands of dollars. Reports indicate that more than one Flintridge dovetail has sold for $5,000. The cost is determined by the quality of the flaking and the artist who made it. Also, just as important is the quality of the stone it's made from. Some points are made from rare geological specimens that exhibit unique combinations of colors. The size of the stone specimen is also a factor that can greatly increase the cost. |
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It does appear that collecting modern lithic art has taken off in a very positive direction. The Lithic Artists Guild and their publication of the "Modern Lithic Artists Journal" is getting the word out to people who never knew there was such a unique art form. If the first five years of the Guild is any indication it's a sure bet that collecting lithic art will become more popular with each new year. |
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"REFERENCES"
2004,
Whittaker, John C., "American Flintknappers," pp. 34-37. |
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