Lot 118A
Pre-Columbian, Mexico, Olmec culture, ca. 900 to 400 BCE. A striking greenstone artifact, finely carved from jadeite or another aluminum-rich silicate, presenting a compact T-shaped form with a gently contoured profile. One side features a shallow groove, leading to theories that this piece may have served dual purposes - as a pendant ornament as well as a ritual tray or palette. The smooth surfaces show soft mineral inclusions and ancient wear, and it is pierced with two suspension holes, allowing it to be strung or displayed. Size: 2" L x 1" W (5.1 cm x 2.5 cm)
This object's function and symbolism remain enigmatic; scholars propose a variety of uses including ritualistic spoon, weaving tool, snuff tray for hallucinogens, bloodletting implement, or paint palette. Some note the form resembles the shell of a winged oyster (Pteria), a pearl-bearing mollusk native to Central American coastal waters, whose nacreous shells and pearls held funerary and ritual significance in Mesoamerican culture. Others liken the silhouette to a tadpole or bird form, implying symbolic or mythic associations with life, transformation, or water. Whether ceremonial tool or status object, such pendants were highly prized for their material, workmanship, and symbolic resonance, often shown worn by rulers or deities in Olmec sculpture.
Provenance: Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005
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#195997
- Condition: Abrasions, but otherwise intact and excellent.
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