Lot 130

Rare Olmec Jade Snuff Tray Pendant w/ Parrot Head!

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Rare Olmec Jade Snuff Tray Pendant w/ Parrot Head!

Estimate: $1,800 - $3,000

October 2, 2025 8:00 AM MDT (In Progress)
Live Auction
Louisville, CO, US


Description:

Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, Preclassic period, ca. 900 BCE to 400 BCE. A remarkable pendant carved from lustrous jadeitic greenstone ('Olmec jade') into a distinctive spatulate or tray-like form with an asymmetrical 'T' shape. The polished surface presents two shallow indentations, possibly functioning as a small palette for ritual substances such as powdered hallucinogens, which could be inhaled during shamanic ceremonies. The overall outline has been interpreted as echoing the form of a Pteria mollusk shell (winged oyster), a motif associated with water and fertility in Olmec cosmology. On one tab, incised lines delineates the profile of a parrot's head, adding further symbolic dimension. Small perforations along the upper edge suggest suspension, marking this as both a personal ornament and a sacred ritual implement. Size: 3.5" L x 1.25" W (8.9 cm x 3.2 cm)

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection, February 24, 2025, Lot 66; ex-Arte Primitivo, New York, New York, USA; ex-Edward H. Merrin Gallery, New York, New York, USA, acquired 1968 to 1969

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#197124

  • Condition: Loss and chips to one projecting tab and surface nicks. Old loss along the upper verso edge with softening to this abraded area. Old inventory label on verso.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$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 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000