Description:

Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Olmec, ca. 1200 BCE. Magnificent green jade blood letting piercer depicting a jaguar head with a piercing spike/thorn emerging from its mouth. Unlike later cultures, most notably the Maya, no representations of bloodletting have been found in Olmec art. However, jade and ceramic perforators as well as representations of such paraphernalia on Stelae and in iconography provide evidence of its practice among the Olmec. In addition, a translation of the Epi-Olmec culture's La Mojarra Stela 1 tell of the ruler's ritual bloodletting. Exquisite work, fine carving, magical iconography on this piece! Custom, museum-quality stand. 1"H x 3"W

Provenance: Ex-Arundel Collection, CA

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  • Condition: Excellent

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October 24, 2014 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000