Lot 6
Pre-Columbian, Costa Rica, Central Highlands, ca. 300 to 700 CE. A captivating Costa Rican jade pendant known as an "axe god", masterfully carved from mottled green jadeite into a ceremonial celt form with a stylized anthropomorphic figure in high relief. The figure stands with arms bent and hands pressed together at the chest, a classic gesture found in numerous regional examples associated with reverence or supplication. The face is dramatically rendered with a long open mouth and prominent gritted teeth, perhaps signifying tension, trance, or the fierce vitality of a shamanic or divine being. The figure's head is crowned with a scalloped headdress and thickly incised bands that may represent cords, fillets, or ceremonial regalia. Deeply drilled suspension holes pierce through the neck, allowing the object to be worn as a pendant or displayed as a ritual object, suspended in both physical and symbolic space. Size: 2.2" W x 5.4" H (5.6 cm x 13.7 cm); 6.3" H (16 cm) on included custom stand.
Its rounded base and tapering profile evoke the form of a polished axe blade, linking it to earlier Olmec traditions of celts as sacred implements of power, sacrifice, and transformation.
Costa Rican axe gods are believed to represent warrior-deities, elite ancestors, or shamanic figures embodying supernatural authority. Their abstracted bodies and powerful postures reflect an enduring Pre-Columbian worldview in which jade functioned as a vitalizing, breath-giving substance - a material of green life-force connecting the living with the divine.
This pendant's scale, sharp detailing, and finely polished surface suggest its use in high-status ceremonial contexts. Suspended across the chest or worn on the body, it likely marked the status of its wearer while offering a protective or metaphysical function. A testament to ancient artistry and belief, it bridges utility and transcendence, power and elegance.
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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#194645
- Condition: Intact, excellent, and wearable with good remaining detail and smooth surfaces.
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