Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 1000 to 400 BCE. A remarkable jadeite pendant in the form of a maskette, strung on a modern strand to be wearable. Boasting hues of viridian, teal, and mint, the elongated visage displays characteristic Olmec features, presenting slanted, ovoid eyes beneath a narrowed brow, a bulbous nose with drilled nostrils, and plump lips held slightly parted, all flanked by a pair of lengthy ears pierced with drill holes for suspending ornaments. A horn projects diagonally from the top of the bald head, indicating that this was likely the maskette of a shaman. A lateral suspension hole perforates the brow, allowing for suspension. On the reverse a deep circular depression may have been used for drug ingestion. Size (pendant): 0.8" W x 1.3" H (2 cm x 3.3 cm); (strand): 22" L (55.9 cm)

Olmec artisans used long distance trade routes to acquire greenstone like this from Eastern Guatemala, over three hundred miles from their homeland. All of this speaks to its immense value in society. Green stones like jadeite seem to have been associated with water, vegetation, and young corn, the staple food of Olmec life. Recent scholarship has linked the embrace of green serpentine by the Olmec to the importance of corn in the Olmec economy as greenstone along with quetzal plumes symbolized verdant maize, a most valuable staple, to the indigenous peoples. Based on burial practices, particularly the objects from important burials at La Venta in the present-day Mexican state of Tabasco, we believe that green stone was reserved for high nobility, royalty, and the gods.

Provenance: private Boynton Beach, Florida Collection, USA; ex-private Drs. Saul Tuttman and Gregory Siskind collection, New York City, New York, USA, acquired between the 1960s and 1980s

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.

#168981

Ancient pendant strung on modern strand to be wearable. Otherwise, intact and excellent with liberal remains of pigment in recessed areas.