Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 900 to 400 BCE. A masterwork from the Olmec, the oldest major civilization in the Pre-Columbian world, this large circular pendant is finely carved with the head and body (yes, the complete figure) of a were-jaguar deity wrapped around the circumference of a stunning piece of jade that boasts a rich array of green hues. Expertly worked with carefully incised details and graceful, subtle contours, the were-jaguar displays signature Olmec traits including a jowly face, downturned jaguar mouth, and slanted almond-shaped eyes. He dons prominent round earspools and an elaborate headress over a pear-shaped head, a sign of high status and most likely due to an artificial cranial deformation, as the Olmec traditionally wore tight-fitting helmets as depicted here. To the Olmecs, such arresting visages like the one depictid on this example carried many meanings, not all of which are obvious to us today; however, scholars surmise that the color green was associated with vibrant growth, renewal, and given the cyclical conception of life and death, rejuvenation after death. An exemplar of Olmec sculpture, impressive for its technique, iconography, and well as the inherent beauty of the jade. Bilaterally perforated for suspension or attachment. A superb sculptural work from the Olmec, indeed the first Mesoamerican civilization that most regard as the forerunner of subsequent ancient American cultures such as the Maya and Aztecs! Custom, museum-quality stand. Size: 2.375" L x 1.625" W x 2.25" H (6 cm x 4.1 cm x 5.7 cm); 4.125" H (10.5 cm) on stand

Provenance: Ex-Americas Artifacts, Roswell, GA, USA; Ex-Private Georgia Collection; Ex-William and Carol Thibadeau, acquired 1960s through 1980s

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#118125

Intact and near choice if not choice. Collection inventory number written on the side of the piece.