Lot 108C
Pre-Columbian, Mexico or Guatemala, late Olmec to early Mayan, ca. 400 BCE to 1 CE. A rare and desirable jade drug spoon in the form of a standing lord, finely carved from a beautiful piece of jade presenting blue-green hues with black and white inclusions. He stands in an intriguing position, with his profiled head facing left - the concave spoon section doubling as his helmet or coiffure - his torso also depicted in profile with one arm visible, yet both legs are visible as if standing in a balletic first position pose. The spoon has been perforated with two suspension holes - one through the forehead and one just above a leg. A wonderful example of material culture used by the indigenous to snuff hallucinogenic ground seeds or plants during ritualistic practices. Custom stand. Size: 2.125" W x 5" H (5.4 cm x 12.7 cm); 6.5" H (16.5 cm) on included custom stand.
Just as green jade was reserved for elite Chinese emperors, in Mesoamerica, precious articles made from jade were reserved for royalty. Illustrating this, the Aztec leader Moctezuma gave the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes four jade beads as tribute, noting that each bead was worth two loads of gold. The Spanish conquistadores, however, only longed for gold, dismissing jade treasures as nothing more than lackluster green rocks. Moctezuma was amused by this foolish preference of the Spaniards.
Provenance: private Illinois collection assembled prior to 1970
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#128364
- Condition: Tiny nick to one foot. Small areas of encrustation and residue - probably from former label - on verso. Otherwise excellent.
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