Abstract
This paper examines adzes in written and iconographic sources, together with archaeological material from the Predynastic period to the end of the Old Kingdom in ancient Egypt. Four emic categories of ancient Egyptian adzes, an.t, msxt.jw nwA are dSr.t are defined.
The relationship between the tools, model tools and their expression of social status and social relations is herein studied in detail. It is argued that Old Kingdom models are multi-layered symbols of the patron-craftsman dependence.
The adzes and model adze blades are products of attached craft specialization and indicate a high level of standardization.