Description:

Pre-Columbian, Central America, Costa Rica, ca. 600 to 800 CE. A lovely greenstone pendant in the form of a stylized bird shown in profile, perched with wings folded to his sides. Crowned by a tall crest, his head presents a prominent, curved beak and an annular eye, placed next to a drill hole that doubles as a suspension loop. Size: 1" W x 4.9" H (2.5 cm x 12.4 cm); 6.7" H (17 cm) on included custom stand.

The value of greenstone for people in ancient Central America lay in its symbolic power: perhaps its color was associated with water and vegetation; later, the Maya would place greenstone beads in the mouths of the dead. Many scholars have argued that the demand for greenstone contributed to the rise of long-distance trading networks and to the rise of urban centers in ancient Mesoamerica. Greenstone would have come to Costa Rica in the form of axe-blades (celts) that would then be worked by local artisans into pendants like this one. The exoticism of stone that had traveled so far probably contributed to the value of these objects in ancient Costa Rica. By 800 CE, gold had replaced greenstone as the prestige material.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Stanley & Sigrun Kaufman collection, acquired early 1970s from Burt Weidhopf

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#187373
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  • Condition: Some light scratches to surface, but otherwise intact, excellent, and still wearable! Wonderful natural hues throughout.

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September 19, 2024 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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