Lot 36
Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Maya, Late Classic Period, ca. 550 to 900 CE. A remarkable assemblage of 28 greenstone adornments, including 27 tubular beads of varying lengths and one finely carved earspool, all beautifully arranged within a presentation frame. Each piece demonstrates the Maya artisans' mastery of stoneworking and their profound reverence for jadeite and related greenstones, materials imbued with spiritual vitality and association with maize, life, and the sacred breath of the gods. The beads range from small, gently tapered cylinders to long, elegant tubes, many bearing mottled hues of celadon, olive, and russet veining. Their smooth surfaces and carefully drilled perforations attest to advanced lapidary skill achieved through hours of abrasion using cord, sand, and water. Size of largest bead: 10.5" L x 2" Diameter (26.7 cm x 5.1 cm); of case: 5" L x 24" W x 24" H (12.7 cm x 61 cm x 61 cm)
The circular earspool, its broad rim incised with radiating lines, displays a classic form favored by high-ranking individuals, likely worn through distended earlobes as a marker of elite status and spiritual refinement. Together, these 28 objects form a cohesive testament to Maya artistry and belief - an elegant symphony of form, color, and meaning preserved across more than a millennium.
Green colored stones were prized for their symbolic qualities of life and fertility, worn as status symbols by the elite as well as serving as ritualistic implements and offerings for burial. To make these pectoral beads, it was necessary to first carve out small blocks, then polish the exterior by friction with sand or other stones to create the cylindrical shape. The perforation was made by a conical stone drill bit and bow. For an example of a massive necklace part of the funerary dress and internment of a Maya lord, please see the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City, jade death mask of Maya king Kinich Janaab Pakal.
Provenance: private Dallas, Texas, USA collection; ex-Artemis Gallery, Louisville, Colorado, USA; ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010
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#198902
- Condition: Chips and abrasions throughout. Several perforations and cavities in beads. Surfaces on most are heavily cleaned and polished in modern times, however some retain mineral and earthen deposits within recessed areas. Displayed in a modern wood and glass case; wood on bottom verso of case is broken. Otherwise, nice presentation with rich hues.
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